Comparison Of The Effects Of Conventional Physiotherapy And Strengthening Exercises With Rotator Cuff Syndrome

Overview

Various options are available for the treatment of rotator cuff syndrome, including conservative and surgical. Conservative treatment methods include activity modification, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroid injections (CSIs), and physiotherapy. Physiotherapy methods include various interventions such as manual therapy, exercise, and electrotherapy. Although these treatments do not directly treat the specific pathology, they help correct rotator cuff and scapular muscle weakness and dysfunction, reduce the tightness of the posterior capsule and other soft tissues, and relieve pain and dysfunction. It focuses on correcting the postural abnormalities that contribute to the disease. In our study, the investigators aimed to determine the effects of rehabilitation components in the conservative treatment of patients with rotator cuff syndrome and to determine the effects of strengthening exercises on the functional status of the patients.

Rotator cuff syndrome (RCS), also known as rotator cuff tendonitis, is characterised by intense pain, functional impairment, loss of shoulder range of motion (ROM), nocturnal pain, and limitations in activities of daily living. It is a common problem in the ageing population and its patophysiology may be the result of tendon degeneration resulting from microtrauma (repetitive activities, overload) or traumatic injury. Groups Participants were randomly divided into two treatment groups. There are 10 patients in each group. The patients in the control group received a standard treatment programme, while the patients in the experimental group received strengthening exercises with theraband in addition to the standard treatment programme. Treatment sessions for both groups lasted 50-55 minutes and were performed three days a week. Details of the study groups are given below. Control Group Patients in the control group received a standard treatment programme. This programme included the following: Passive stretching exercises were performed 10 repetitions for each movement (shoulder flexion, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, external rotation). Codman exercises were performed 15 repetitions (with 1kg dumbbell). Shoulder isometric exercises were performed 15 repetitions for each movement (ball press, clockwise and anti-clockwise ball rotation, finger slide on the wall). Wand exercises were performed 15 repetitions (shoulder abduction, internal rotation, external rotation). Electrotherapy was applied for 20 minutes and ice therapy was applied for 20 minutes.7-9 Experimental Group Patients in the experimental group received strengthening exercises with theraband in addition to the standard treatment programme. This programme included the following: Strengthening Exercises: Low-row, biceps strengthening, shoulder horizontal abduction and shoulder horizontal adduction, external rotation. After the pain decreased, strengthening exercises for subscapularis, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, teres minor, deltoid and scapulothoracic muscles were performed. The colour of the Theraband was chosen between yellow, red, green, blue and red to the extent tolerated by the patient.