Self-training versus physiotherapist-supervised rehabilitation of the shoulder in patients treated with arthroscopic subacromial decompression: A clinical randomized study
Nh. Andersen et al., Self-training versus physiotherapist-supervised rehabilitation of the shoulder in patients treated with arthroscopic subacromial decompression: A clinical randomized study, J SHOUL ELB, 8(2), 1999, pp. 99-101
In a controlled clinical prospective study, 43 consecutive patients (43 sho
ulders) with subacromial impingement resistant to conservative therapy and
without full-thickness rotator cuff tears underwent arthroscopic subacromia
l decompression. The patients were randomized to either self-training or ph
ysiotherapist-guided rehabilitation for immediate postoperative rehabilitat
ion. Postoperative follow-vp was performed by an independent observer after
3, 6, and 12 months. With the use of the Constant score for evaluation of
functional outcome, patients training themselves improved from a mean 53 po
ints (range 26 to 81 points) to a mean 79 points (range 45 to 100) points a
fter 12 months. Physiotherapist-supervised patients improved from a mean 54
points (range 20 to 90 points) to a mean 80 points (range 40 to 100 points
). The self-training patients returned to work after a mean 8.5 weeks (rang
e 1 to 14 weeks), whereas the physiotherapist-supervised patients returned
to work after a mean 8 weeks (range 3 to 13 weeks). No statistical differen
ce was found between the 2 rehabilitation methods. This study was unable to
show any beneficial effect of physiotherapist-supervised rehabilitation af
ter arthroscopic subacromial decompression of the shoulder.