Randomized controlled study on the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound in the treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound therapy on the range of motion, pain, functional tests and quality of life in the patients suffering from the subacromial impingement syndrome .Material-Method: 62 patients with the diagnosis of subacromial impingement syndrome were involved in the study. The patients were classified into two groups randomly. One group (n=31) was given standard exercise program and therapeutic ultrasound and the other group (n=31) was given standart exercise program and sham ultrasound. Then the patients were followed up for 12 weeks. The shoulder range of motion (ROM) of the patients was assessed with goniometer; the shoulder pain at rest, during motion, night pain were evaluated with visual analogue scale (VAS) of 0-10 cm; and the functional status with Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC), The Society of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Evaluation (ASESS) and Constant scoring (CS) These evaluations were done before the treatment and after the treatment on the 3th and 12th weeks.Findings: Before treatment, there was no significant difference between the groups in age, sex, occupation, education level, symptom duration, trauma history, shoulder magnetic resonance imaging phase (p>0.05). After treatment, there was no significant difference between the groups in the number of exercise done and antienflamatuar drug use (p>0.05). Significant recovery was determined in shoulder ROM measurements due to treatment in both groups (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in ROM values after treatment. VAS scores showed significant improvement in both groups. İmprovement at 12th week was significantly better in ultrasound group than control group in night pain and motion pain scores. ASESS scores were significantly improved in ultrasound group, hovewer improvement in control group was not significant. There was no significant difference between groups in CS before treatment, however CS in ultrasound group at 12th week was significantly better than control group. WORC scores showed significant improved in both groups. Although the difference was not significant, improvement in WORC score in ultrasound group was better than control group. Six of eight SF-36 parameters were significantly improved in ultrasound group, hovewer three of eight SF-36 parameters were significantly improved in control group at 12 weeks. There was no significant difference between groups in SF-36 parameters after treatment.Conclusion: It was found that the therapeutic ultrasound applied together with the conventional exercise program for the subacromial impingement syndrome patients reduces pain and increases the functionality.