Introduction: Subacromial impingement syndrome is defined as the compression of soft tissue structures located below the acromial arc when the arm is in elevation, especially when positioned above the head. It can occur due to structural changes that reduce the subacromial space and functional disorders in the centering of the humeral head (eg. muscle imbalance), but it can also be caused by trauma, overuse of rotator cuff muscle tendons, scapular dyskinesia and the narrow posterior part of the glenohumeral joint capsule. Purpose: Our aim was to determine the effectiveness of various therapeutic exercise programs on reducing pain, increasing range of motion in the shoulder joint, increasing muscle strength of shoulder muscles and improving upper limb function in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. Methods: The literature has been searched through the COBISS system and the electronic databases PubMed and Cinahl. The following phrases have been used in English: subacromial impingement syndrome, exercise therapy, physiotherapy exercises and their combinations.Results: Eight articles met the inclusion criteria. Patients performed exercieses to improve scapular stabilization, strengthening rotator cuff muscles, proprioceptive exercises for shoulder joint and exercises to increase range of motion. Pain and function of the shoulder joint were evaluated in all studies. The range of motion in the shoulder joint was measured in three studies and muscle strength in five. Pain was reduced when performing all types of the therapeutic exercises. Shoulder joint function improved in all groups, but only one study showed a statistically significant difference between the groups. An increase in range of motion was found in all three studies. In one study, significant differences were found between the groups in measuring the isometric muscle strength at the abduction of 90°. Other authors who measured muscle strength found an improvement in muscle strength within each group, but no differences between the groups were found. Discussion and conclusion: The results show small differences between the groups in pain, muscle strength, range of motion and shoulder joint function. Scapular stabilization exercises and strengthening rotator cuff exercises reduce pain, improve in muscle strength, increase range of motion, and improve shoulder joint function. Specific exercises impact shoulder joint pain and function more than non-specific exercises. Bigger impact of other exercises on pain, muscle strength, range of motion and shoulder joint function wasn't found.
|