Evaluation of thoracolumbal fascia flexibility in subacromial impingement syndrome

The aim of this study was to evaluate the thoracolumbar fascia flexibility in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. For this purpose, a total of 60 subjects who were diagnosed with subacromial impingement syndrome (n = 30) and healthy (n = 30) were included. Pain severity was assesed by visual analogue scale, trunk flexibility with modified schober test and tape measurement, trunk range of motion ( flexion, extension and lateral flexion) by goniometer, thoracolumbar fascia flexibility with rotational measurement on the goniometric platform and palpation, lumbar extensor muscles shortness and shoulder posterior capsule shortness by tape measurement for both groups. There was no statistically significant difference in thoracolumbar fascia and trunk flexibility, trunk flexion and extension range of motion, trunk rotation and lateral flexion flexibility, pain intensity at rest and night between two groups. (p>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in lateral flexion range of motion, trunk flexibility test in the direction of extention and pain intensity at activity (p <0.05). In conclusion, our study showed that the flexibility of the thoracolumbal fascia may not be affected in subacromial impingement syndrome. We think that subjects included in our study were at young ages, therefore it dues to the low average age of individuals and therefore less deformation of the gelatinous structure and water content of the fascia; it is thought to reduce the possibility of adverse effects of fascia in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. Further studies involving fascia should include more objective assessment methods such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging to improve objectivity.