Subacromial Shoulder Pain - those who have and don't have it

This study found a significant increase in resting thoracic flexion and forward head posture, a reduction in upper thoracic active ROM, and a reduction in posterior shoulder and passive internal rotation ROM in a group of subjects suffering from Subacromial Shoulder Pain (SSP) compared to a group of matched asymptomatic controls.

51 pairs of subjects were matched for gender, hand dominance, level of physical activity and age (+/-3) into SSP and asymptomatic groups.

The subjects were then taken through physical assessment as follows:

1. Assessment of scoliosis through forward trunk flexion test;
2. Kibler’s test for lateral scapula slide motion in 3 positions;
3. Passive ROM of glenohumeral internal rotation in supine;
4. Tyler’s method for posterior shoulder tightness;
5. Three sagittal view photography for posture and thoracic spine range assessment;
6. Relaxed resting posture;
7. In flexed position;
8. In extended position.

During subsequent analysis in search of any independent predictors of SSP, nothing significant was found.

This study, which matched those with symptoms and asymptomatic controls, has good inclusion and exclusion criteria provides physical assessment findings likely to be found in those who present with SSP compared to those who don’t.

As the authors of this study note, further research to determine the efficacy of interventions focused on these factors would help with management of SSP.

> From: Land, Musculoskelet Sci Pract 27 (2017) 49-56. All rights reserved to Elsevier Ltd. Click here for the online summary.