Shockwave Therapy Associated with Progressive Exercises in Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: a Clinical Trial Protocol

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to determine whether adding shockwave therapy (SWT) to a progressive exercise program improves shoulder pain and function in individuals with rotator cuff tendinopathy (RC tendinopathy). Ninety patients diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinopathy will be randomly allocated into two groups: active SWT plus a progressive exercise program or placebo SWT plus a progressive exercise program. Primary outcomes will be measured using the Constant–Murley Score function questionnaire and by assessing patient-reported pain intensity with the numerical pain rating scale. The secondary outcomes will be measured using the Global Perceived Effects Scale and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. All the outcomes will be measured immediately after the end of treatment and at 3-month follow-up.

Keywords::

• Constant–Murley score
• musculoskeletal injury
• physical therapy modalities
• progressive exercises
• rehabilitation
• rotator cuff tendinopathy
• shockwave therapy
• shoulder pain
• subacromial impingement

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/imt-2020-0103

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.