Glenohumeral osteoarthritis: overview, therapy, and rehabilitation

Abstract

Purpose: Glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHOA) is a common cause of pain and functional disability of the shoulder. Despite the limited evidence, there are several options for the treatment of this pathology. The aim of this article is to provide current information on the characteristics of the disease and the pathophysiology, evidence based on medical and surgical treatments with emphasis on the rehabilitation process.

Methods: It was performed with an extensive literature review, mainly clinical practice guidelines, randomized controlled trials, reviews, focusing on the rehabilitation management.

Results: There are few clinical practice guidelines that address GHOA as a pathology with unique characteristics. Evidence based treatment recommendations are mostly supported by low-quality evidence and experts’ opinions, with few high levels of evidence studies guiding treatment decisions.

Conclusions: Despite the lack of good quality evidence, rehabilitation programs have proven to be efficient and reliable, and this revision provides information and recommendations in this field.

Implication of Rehabilitation

• Glenohumeral osteoarthritis is a common cause of pain and functional disability of the shoulder

• There are few clinical practice guidelines that address Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis as a pathology with unique characteristics, and recommendations for rehabilitation and therapeutic exercise are poor

• The paper provides current information on the characteristics of the disease, its rehabilitation process, and could be of interest for rehabilitation professionals to direct their practices in this field

Keywords:

• Osteoarthritis
• glenohumeral
• shoulder
• therapy

Disclosure statement

All the authors declare not having any conflict of interest. All figures have signed an informed consent by the participants to be used in this publication.