Comparison of low-level laser treatment and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in subacromial impingement syndrome: a randomized, prospective clinical study.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of low-level laser treatment (LLLT) and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in the treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). Seventy-one patients with subacromial impingement were randomly assigned to LLLT (n = 37) and ESWT (n = 34) groups. The patients received a total of 15 sessions of LLLT or once a week for 3 sessions of ESWT. All patients, before treatment, at the end of treatment, and 3 months after treatment, were evaluated with range of motion (ROM), visual analogue pain scale (VAS pain), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories, the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). In both groups, there was a significant improvement in all outcome measures (p < 0.05) except the mental health score in the LLLT group. ESWT group showed more improvements in terms of SPADI disability and total scores, PSQI, and physical-mental health scores at the end of treatment (p < 0.05). The improvement in VAS pain day and SPADI scores at the third month was significantly more evident in the ESWT group (p < 0.05). Both LLLT and ESWT treatments are effective in the treatment of SIS in the short-medium term and can be used in clinical practice. Future larger prospective clinical trials are needed to investigate the long-term efficacy and optimal treatment protocol of LLLT and ESWT in SIS.

Efficiency of therapeutic ultrasound on pain, disability, anxiety, depression, sleep and quality of life in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: A randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) is characterized by pain and disability of shoulder. Various treatment methods have been used for SIS. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to evaluate efficacy of therapeutic ultrasound (US) on pain, disability, anxiety, depression, sleep quality and quality of life in patients with SIS. METHODS: Patients with SIS were randomly divided into two groups, including the group 1 (continuous US group; 3 MHz, 1.5 W/cm2, n = 26) and group 2 (sham US group, n = 24). Additionally, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) + exercise program were added in both groups. Pain and disability of the shoulder were assessed by the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), while anxiety and depression were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to evaluate sleep quality. Quality of life was evalutaed by the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Patients were evaluated at baseline and after end of three weeks. RESULTS: Both groups had significantly improvements in terms of SPADI-pain, SPADI-disability, SPADI-total, NHP-pain and NHP-sleep scores after the three weeks interventions. There were significantly improvements in the Group 1 in terms of PSQI-total, and NHP-physical activity. Group 2 had significantly improvements in terms of anxiety-HADS, depression-HADS and NHP-emotional reaction scores. In the inter-group comparison, there were no significantly differences in the change scores were observed in any domains of SPADI scores, anxiety, depression and sleep scores, or any NHP scores. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that US does not have any benefits on SIS. TENS + exercise program are not effective on anxiety, depression and fatigue, however TENS +$ exercise program are effective on pain, disability and sleep disturbance in patients with SIS.

Effectiveness of microwave diathermy on pain, functional capacity, muscle strength, quality of life, and depression in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical study.

The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic MD on pain, functional capacity, muscle strength, quality of life, and depression in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). A total of 40 inpatient subjects with definite SIS were included in this study. These patients were sequentially randomized into 2 groups. Group 1 (n = 20) received therapeutic MD. Group 2 (n = 20) was served as control group and received sham MD. Superficial heat and exercise program were given to both groups. Both of the programs were performed 5 times weekly for 3 weeks. Patients were assessed before treatment (BT), after treatment (AT), and at a 1-month follow-up (F). Outcome measures included visual analogue scale, goniometry, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, Shoulder Disability Questionnaire, shoulder isokinetic muscle testing, handgrip strength, Short Form 36, and Beck Depression Index. The patients with SIS in each group had significant improvements in pain, shoulder ROM, disability, shoulder muscles and grip strength, quality of life, and depression AT and F when compared with their initial status (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups according to all the parameters regarding the change scores between AT-BT test and F-BT test (P > 0.05). A 2,450-MHz MD regimen showed no beneficial effects in patients with SIS, so the superficial heat and exercise program, as it is efficient, may be preferable for the treatment of SIS, alone.