The effect of shoulder symptom modification tests
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Do symptom modification tests improve range of movement and pain in patients with impingement-type shoulder pain?
IRAS ID
135400
Contact name
Mindy Cairns
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hertfordshire
Research summary
Shoulder pain is a very common condition and can lead to significant disability. Some reports suggest 30% of people experience shoulder pain at some stage of their lives, and 50% of the population experience at least one episode of shoulder pain annually. Persistent pain can be seen in 54% after 3 years. Recent evidence has shown that shoulder pain of over 3 months or longer is associated with sleep disturbance, depression and anxiety. A recent government study of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders has revealed that for the first time in 2011-2012, upper limb disorders have overtaken back pain, in the number of days taken off work. Therefore optimising the assessment and treatment of shoulder pain is very important to try to reduce the impact it has on pain and disability. Impingement-type shoulder pain is one of the most common types of shoulder pain.
Possible causes of impingement-type shoulder pain include alterations activation and strength of the rotator cuff muscles (deep muscles inside the shoulder joint), shoulder blade muscles and core muscles (those of abdomen and gluteals, and also lower limb control). Current clinical practice uses symptom modification manoeuvres that are suggested to improve activation and recruitment of the muscles around the shoulder or core, and compensate for poor shoulder blade control. To date there is minimal literature or data on whether these tests are reliable or valid.
Therefore the aim of this study is to review if symptom modification tests alter pain and range in patients with impingement-type shoulder pain.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EM/0150
Date of REC Opinion
7 Apr 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion