Effectiveness of Action Observation and Motor Imagery Intervention Plus Exercise for Chronic Painful Shoulder in Primary Care

The aim of this project is to investigate a new conservative therapeutic approach for patients with chronic shoulder pain, a highly prevalent condition in primary care, and with a significant percentage of patients experiencing persistent pain. The proposed intervention combines Action Observation (AO) and Motor Imagery (MI) techniques with the usual based on exercises, with the aim of enhancing its effects by reducing disability, improving adherence to treatment and reducing the impact of pain on recovery. Although these techniques have been little explored in shoulder rehabilitation, they have scientific evidence in other areas of neuromusculoskeletal rehabilitation.

The study will be carried out in primary care, with the aim of improving the quality of the treatments available in these centers. The intervention will facilitate compliance with home treatment guidelines, which will shorten recovery times and sick leave, thus optimizing access to rehabilitation services for new patients.

A key component of the project will be the dissemination of results, both in the scientific community and in society. In addition to scientific publications and conference presentations, various dissemination strategies will be implemented: 1) Social networks social networks: Publication of summaries, graphics and explanatory videos about the project and its findings. 2) Teaching materials and practical guides : Development of resources aimed specifically at primary care physiotherapists to facilitate the implementation of the techniques in clinical practice. 3) Public awareness: Dissemination of information about chronic shoulder pain and advances in its treatment, through articles, press releases and interviews in specialized and general media.

This comprehensive approach will not only scientifically validate the intervention, but also transfer knowledge to health professionals and society, promoting a more accessible and effective treatment for patients with chronic shoulder pain

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Inclusion criteria

• who have been diagnosed and referred by the family physician to physiotherapy units in primary care by a process of muscular origin in the shoulder region,
• who have not received physiotherapy treatment by the same process in the last 6 months.

Exclusion criteria

• suffer from systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, diagnosed neurological disease, lupus erythematosus, or cancer.
• History of shoulder surgery,
• patients with psychiatric pathologies or personality disorders;
• patients with severe mobility limitation compatible with the diagnosis of frozen shoulder, 5) patients diagnosed with type II diabetes,

• patients with little knowledge of Spanish language spoken or written and 7) reproduction of symptoms during active movements of the cervical spine or during palpation of the cervical or thoracic region.