Effectiveness of proprioseptive exercises in patients with rotator cuff syndrome

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of proprioception exercises in the treatment of rotator cuff syndrome which was added to the conventional exercise and physical therapy program. In our research, the patients aged between 20 and 50 who where diagnosed with rotator cuff syndrome and cured with the physiotherapy methods, had never a shoulder surgery before and had a shoulder range of motion were divided into two groups in 40 patients each randomized with sealed envelope method. The first group was given conventional physiotherapy, Codman exercises and Theraband strengthening exercises, while the second group received shoulder proprioception exercises. Patients, before studying and time of eight week controls when exercises were done, were evaluated in terms of patient demographic data, pain levels according to VAS (Visual analog scale), soamatotonia measurement, active and passive range of motion, joint position sense measurement, DASH and SPADI index rates for functional status. Before treatment, there was found no difference in terms of age, sex, body, mass index, affected party, dominant party, educational status and occupational findings (p<0,05). There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of pain levels, range of motion, functional levels, joint position sensations and muscle strength measurements after treatment (p <0.05). In order to determine the effectiveness of proprioception exercises, in comparison with the group who received conventional physical therapy and extra proprioception exercises; increased pain range, increased sense of joint position, passive flexion, and increase in range of motion range other than active-passive external rotation, functional level change was found to be better in the group performing extra proprioception compared to the group receiving conventional physical therapy (p <0.05). As a result of our study, proprioceptive exercises added to the conventional physiotherapy program in the treatment of rotator cuff syndrome have been found to contribute to the reduction of pain, correction of joint position sensation, increasing the range of motion and improving the functional status.