The effectiveness of scapular stabilization exercise in the patients with subacromial impingement syndrome.

Objective: The study investigated the effectiveness of stretching, strengthening exercises, and the scapular stabilization exercises on the pain, shoulder range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, joint position sense (JPS), scapular dyskinesis and quality of life (OL) in the patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS).

Methods: 27 women and 13 men, mean age 51 (24-71) years old, were included in this study. All the patients were separated into 2 groups according to simple random table. Stretching and strengthening exercises were given to the group I (n=20) and scapular stabilization exercises were added to the group II (n=20). The pain severity, shoulder ROM, muscle strength, JPS, lateral scapular slide test (LSST), Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) Index were evaluated before and after treatment. Patients completed a 6-week rehabilitation program, three times a week.

Results: The results showed that all measurements improved statistically in both groups after treatment (p < 0.05). And the improvements in the muscle strength, JPS and scapular dyskinesia were significantly different in group II (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: It is suggested that in the treatment of SIS; scapular stabilization exercises, given with stretching and strengthening exercises, can be more effective in increasing the muscle strength, developing the JPS and decreasing the scapular dyskinesis.