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

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of stretching and strengthening exercises and the scapular stabilization exercises on the pain, shoulder range of motion, muscle strength, joint position sense and quality of life in the patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). Material and methods: This study was carried out on 40 patients who had suitable inclusion criteria from the patients had been diagnosed as SIS admitted to the orthopaedic clinic in Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine. Before the beginning measurements all the patients suited to the criteria were separated to 2 groups according to simple random table. Stretching and strengthening exercises were given to the first (n=20) group and scapular stabilization exercises were added to the second group (n=20). The cases were evaluated before and after the 6 week treatment programme. In the evaluation process the demographic data of the patients, dominant extremity, the affected extremity, the period of pain were interviewed. The pain severity, shoulder range of motion, muscle strength, joint position sense, lateral scapular slide test (LSST), Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) Index measurement were performed. Perceived symptom changes of the patients were assessed by a three points scale. Results: When the before treatment and after treatment pain severity, range of motions and WORC index results of the groups were compared no statistically differences was determined (p>0.05). It was found that after treatment the increase in muscle strengths of Group 2 (lower middle, upper trapezius, serratus anterior and supraspinatus), improvement in the internal and external rotation position senses and the decrease in the LSST results in three different positions statistically higher (p< 0.05). Conclusion: In the treatment of SIS pathologies; scapular stabilization exercises given with stretching and strengthening exercises are effective in increasing the muscle strength, developing the joint position sense and decreasing the scapular dyskinesis. Key words: Subacromial impingement syndrome, scapular stabilization, strengthening exercises, stretching exercises