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

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.

Inclusion criteria

• having complaints for at least three months
• having positive Empty can test
• having rotator cuff injury
• having loss of function in the shoulder and volunteering to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• cardiovascular disease that would interfere with the rehabilitation process,
• who had neurological or systemic musculoskeletal disease
• who had undergone upper extremity surgery
• who had upper extremity scapula fracture