Treatment Of Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Research Articles

Treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome: a survey of physical therapists in Saudi Arabia.

Shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) is one of the most frequent causes of shoulder pain. Evidence supported the use of conservative treatment for SIS. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) indicated that physical therapy interventions, including therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, patient education, and advice, were recommended for the treatment of SIS. This study's purpose was to investigate physical therapists' adherence to the CPGs for treating SIS. Physical therapists in Saudi Arabia were invited to participate in an online survey via the Saudi Physical Therapy Association between May and December 2022. The developed online survey consisted of 36 questions, divided into five sections: eligibility, demographics, clinical practice regarding the treatment of SIS, barriers, and facilitators for the use of CPGs. Descriptive and logistic regression analysis were employed to analyze study data. A total of 313 physical therapists completed the entire survey. In general, physical therapists were aligned with CPGs. Physical therapists advised their patients, utilized therapeutic exercises and manual therapy techniques, and used electrotherapy modalities despite being not recommended. Key challenges indicated by physical therapists for the use of CPGs include low patient adherence to therapists' instructions, lack of adequate knowledge, and limited clinical time. Overall, physical therapists in Saudi Arabia followed the CPGs for treating SIS. Therapeutic exercises combined with manual therapy were the most common treatment options. However, further research should consider exploring adherence to such guidelines over time.

High intensity laser therapy versus radial shock wave therapy in treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome

Background. Shoulder pain is very common problem in medical practice, ranked third after lower back and neck issues. Shoulder impingement syndrome is thought to be the most common reason for shoulder pain. It accounts for around 44% to 65% of all shoulder problems. Purpose. to compare between the effects of High Intensity Laser Therapy versus Radial Shock Wave Therapy in treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome. Methods. 45 patients were randomly enrolled into three equal groups. Group A (n = 15) received HILT plus conventional physical therapy program, Group B (n = 15) received RSWT plus the same conventional physical therapy program, and Group C (n = 15) received a conventional physical therapy program. The assessment were conducted pre and post treatment using the Visual Analogue Scale, Shoulder pain and disability index and electro goniometer to active shoulder flexion and abduction range of motion. Results. MANOVA test demonstrated a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in VAS and SPADI and a significant (P < 0.05) increase in shoulder flexion and abduction ROM in the three groups. VAS, SPADI, shoulder flexion, abduction ROM revealed that there was more improvement in-group A (P < 0.05). Conclusion: HILT showed a superior effect compared with RSWT on pain, function and shoulder flexion and abduction ROM in treatment of SIS.

Total training volume for the treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome: a systematic review protocol with meta-analysis

This systematic review protocol with meta-analysis aims to verify the effects of the total volume of resistance training on pain outcomes and functional capacity in individuals with Shoulder Impingement Syndrome. This review will be developed following the steps of formulation of the research question, search for randomized clinical trials, selection of studies considering the eligibility criteria, data extraction, analysis and synthesis of evidence. The question will be based on PICOS strategy: “What total volumes of resistance training reduce pain and improve function in individuals with shoulder impingement syndrome?” Searches will be carried out in 12 databases and gray literature sources. The results will be exported to the Rayyan application so that two independent and blind reviewers can perform the exclusion of duplicates and selection of studies by reading titles and abstracts. Randomized clinical trials that analyzed the effects of resistance training in the treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome will be selected for full-text reading, of which, studies that meet the eligibility criteria will have their data extracted and submitted to narrative synthesis and, if possible, to the meta-analysis. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) tools will be used to analyze the methodological quality and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) for the quality of the evidence.

A Systematic Review on Low-Level Laser Therapy in the Management of Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Background: Conservative therapy is currently the elective treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome according to the scientific literature. The success of conservative therapy is due to physiotherapy and the application of its methods. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate low-level laser therapy, a physiotherapeutic method for pain reduction and increasing the range of motion. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The screening of the literature was carried out on the Cochrane, PEDro, PubMed/Medline, and Scopus databases up until December 2021. All studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and five articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study. The risk of bias was evaluated with PEDro and Jadad scales. Results: In this study, we reviewed five RCTs that compared low-level laser therapy with other physiotherapy treatments to reduce pain and improve range of motion in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. Conclusions: Low-level laser therapy for shoulder impingement syndrome requires further investigation in future studies.

Analysis of the Effects on the Level of Pain and Functional Improvement After Integrated Korean Medicine in Patients with Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: A Retrospective Chart Review

Background: This study investigated the clinical effectiveness of Korean medicine (KM) treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS).Methods: There were 61 patients who were diagnosed with SIS in the Jaseng hospital network of KM (7 hospitals located in Korea: Gangnam, Daejeon, Bucheon, Haeundae, Bundang, Ulsan, and Gwangju) between January 1st, 2015 and December 31st, 2020 who were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were grouped according to complications, intake of analgesics, duration of illness preadmission, and treatment. Treatments consisted of herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping, Chuna, pharmacopuncture, bee venom pharmacopuncture, medicinal steaming, Daoyin exercises, and physical therapy. By comparing the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, and European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions questionnaire scores, the effectiveness of integrated KM treatment was evaluated.Results: There were 14 males and 47 females. For inpatients diagnosed with SIS, the mean NRS score decreased from 5.78 ± 1.33 to 3.40 ± 1.43 (p < 0.001). The mean Shoulder Pain and Disability Index score decreased from 53.87 ± 14.76 to 38.56 ± 18.87 (p < 0.001), and the mean European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions questionnaire increased from 0.67 ± 0.13 to 0.76 ± 0.09 (p < 0.001) after KM treatment. Medicinal steaming (0.398; p < 0.001), acupuncture (0.290), cupping (0.288), bee venom pharmacopuncture (0.282), and Daoyin exercises (0.262; p < 0.05) had a positive correlation with improved changes in the NRS score.Conclusion: Conclusion: Treatment with integrated KM treatment improved the pain, range of motion, shoulder function, and quality of life of patients with SIS.

Low level Laser Therapy versus Ultrasonic therapy for the Treatment of Shoulder Impingement Syndrome A Systematic Review of randomized controlled trials

Abstract Background Shoulder impingement syndrome is a common cause of shoulder pain in primary health care settings. Many physical modalities of treatment are available in clinical practice, however there is insufficient evidence on their relative effectiveness. This review compares the effectiveness of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) with ultrasonic therapy. Objectives To assess the effectiveness of LLLT vs. ultrasonic therapy in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome Search methods We searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (Pubmed), Embase, Scopus. We searched trials registries on ClinicalTrials.gov (www.ClinicalTrials.gov) and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) Search Portal (apps.who.int/trialsearch/). We also hand-searched reference lists of all included primary studies, relevant conference proceedings and academic literature, and relevant systematic reviews (both Cochrane and non Cochrane), to identify additional studies missed from the original electronic searches (e.g., unpublished or in press citations). We did not use date or language restrictions. Selection criteria Randomized controlled trials comparing LLLT vs. US therapy in adult patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. Data collection Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information. We collected our primary outcomes information from the trials and assessed the quality of evidence for key outcomes using GRADE. Results We included 2 RCTs, contributing 67 participants to our qualitative synthesis. The overall risk of bias is high for both studies. Very low-quality evidence from 1 RCT shows slightly increased mean change in pain severity after LLLT compared to ultrasonic therapy in the short term (3 months) (MD 4.69, 95% CI -5.76 to -3.62).[13]. Very low-quality evidence from 1 RCT shows little to no difference in functional improvement after LLLT compared to ultrasonic therapy in the short term (after 3 months) (MD -0.63, 95% CI -5.53 to 4.27) [13]. No studies investigated Range of Motion in the short term. Verylow certainty evidence showed little to no difference in pain severity and function in the immediate post-treatment phase (up to 1 month). No studies addressed long term follow-up. conclusion There is insufficient evidence regarding the difference in effects between LLLT and Ultrasonic therapy for the treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome.

Acupuncture Treatment for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) a literature review was conducted of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) where acupuncture was used as an intervention for patients diagnosed with SIS. Relevant clinical studies (N = 181) were retrieved from several databases based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and the interventions and results were analyzed. Six RCTs were selected to review based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In all 6 studies, the acupuncture treatment group showed significant positive changes in indicators evaluating pain, disability, and quality of life. A significant decrease in the evaluation indicators (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, numeric rating scale, Visual Analogue Scale, Constant Murley Shoulder Assessment Score, patient’s global assessment, and doctor’s global assessment) and a significant increase in the questionnaire scores (UCLA, AL-score, EuroQol 5 Dimension Self-Report Questionnaire, and disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand) were observed. In addition, 1 study showed similar improvements in pain and quality of life measures in the acupuncture group and corticosteroid injection group. No major side effects were reported. Acupuncture may be an effective and safe treatment for SIS however, further RCTs are required.

Comparison of exercise therapy and ultrasonic therapy in the treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome

Background: The shoulder is one of the most frequent sites of musculoskeletal pain, incidence of shoulder pain in primary care patients is estimated to be 11.2 per 1000 per year. a considerable number of people with shoulder pain (41%) show persistent symptoms after 1 year. Comparing the exercise therapy and ultrasound therapy (UST) for impingement syndrome. Methodology: The study was conducted at OPD of MNR Hospital in Sangareddy. The study was conducted for a period of 3 weeks. A total number of 30 subjects were selected by simple random sampling after explained to all the participants and an informed consent was taken from each subject. 30 subjects were randomly divided into 2 Groups. Exercise therapy was given to Group 1 and UST was given to Group 2. Both the Groups received exercise therapy and ultrasonic therapy in shoulder impingement syndrome. Subjects were evaluated pre and post treatment for VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) score, SPADI SCORE (Shoulder Pain and disability index) shoulder ROM. Outcome measures: VAS scale, SPADI score. Results and Discussion: To test the significance of the mean difference of two groups, unpaired t test was done. It is statistically shown that there is some significant impact in the parameters VAS, SPADI and shoulder ROM. The results showed that, group-I had more significant improvement in all parameters than group –II. Conclusion: It is concluded that exercise therapy is better than ultrasonic therapy for subjects with shoulder impingement syndrome. KEY WORDS: Exercise Therapy, Ultrasonic Therapy, Shoulder Pain and disability index, Range of Motion.

Supervised Recovery of Shoulder Muscular Skeletal Disorders Through a Wearable-Enabled Digital Application

The present work introduces ShoulPhy: a digital application, which includes a rehabilitation protocol for the treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). ShoulPhy, short for Shoulder Physiotherapy enables the development of a patient-centred physiotherapy program and the remote monitoring of the patient’s adherence to the program, both in the clinic and daily life. The application provides a quantitative and effective evaluation of the therapeutic activity and functional level, through the use of wearable devices. The final aim was to facilitate the functional physical recovery and maintenance gained through the rehabilitation program, thus leading to a complete return to sport and routine activities. ShoulPhy underwent small scale tests both on healthy subjects and clinicians, which, in addition to evaluating the technical reliability of the system, assessed the usability and acceptance by clinicians and patients.

Taping with Active Exercises Versus Active Exercise Alone in Management of Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Subjects

Background of study: Shoulder problems are common complaint of the musculoskeletal system. Of all the shoulder problems shoulder impingement syndrome is one of the common. Treatment of shoulder impingement symptoms commonly includes exercises at first instance. Taping has been seen as an alternative treatment in SIS. Methods: A total of thirty patients were diagnosed with shoulder impingement syndrome. Among which 27 (F=11(40.7%) M=16(59.3%)) stayed were assigned to one of two treatment groups. 15 subjects in group A were treated with exercises along with some conventional pain modality (US or IFT). Subjects in group B (12) were treated with exercises along with taping. Taping was done once a week. Results: Within group comparison was done using paired t-test and between groups comparison was done using independent t- test with p – values matched at less than 0.001. There was significant improvement in SDQ and VAS in both groups. In group A SDQ improved from 59.53 ± 13.87 to 18.87 ± 15.32 and VAS decreased from 6.27 ± 1.44 to 2.00 ± 1.56. And in group B SDQ improved from 62.70 ± 19.47 to 23.05 ± 19.33 and VAS score decreased from 6.75 ± 1.71 to 1.92 ± 1.62. There was some improvement in ROM scores of shoulder flexion abduction and scaption in both groups but that was not significant. Conclusion: In conclusion there is promising evidence for efficacy of exercise treatment along with taping and other pain modalities in treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome. And it should be the choice of treatment in pry health care. However when comparing exercise along taping with exercises along with other pain modality. There is no such difference that one treatment option is better than second.

Comparison of intra-articular injection therapy to physiotherapy techniques in management of shoulder impingement syndrome.

Background: Shoulder impingement syndrome is umbrella term that covers rotator cuff syndrome, tendinitis of muscles of rotator cuff and bursitis in shoulder region. Usually this syndrome is treated conservatively. The treatment options are corticosteroid injections, medical treatment and physical therapy, of which, the most common are injection therapy and physical therapy. Injection therapy is carried out by orthopedic surgeons. However, which treatment is most effective in terms of symptoms relieving and cost effectiveness, yet conflicting. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Setting: Independent University Hospital, Faisalabad. Period: 1stJuly 2017 to 30thJune 2018. Methods: Comparing effects of two treatments for shoulder impingement syndrome; sub armorial steroid injection, the control group and manual physical therapy, the treatment group. Primary outcomes were Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), to measure endpoint differences. Secondary outcomes included changes in Global Rating of Change (GRC) scale and Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) scores. Trial was conducted in one clinical setup. The collected data was analyzed by Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS 20.00). Results: At baseline of group physical therapy 19(95%) reported severe and 1(5%) moderate level of pain, at numeric rating pain scale. At post treatment of group injection therapy 19(95%) reported severe and 1(5%) moderate level of pain, at numeric rating pain scale. At follow up of group injection therapy 19(95%) reported severe and 1(5%) moderate level of pain, at numeric rating pain scale. At follow up of treatment physical therapy all patients mild level of pain, at numeric rating pain scale. Conclusion: Injection therapy treatment is more effective in improving shoulder impingement syndrome in terms of pain and function than that of physical therapy treatment.

어깨 충돌증후군의 침치료에 관한 연구 동향

The purpose of this study is to investigate reasearch trend of acupuncture treatment on shoulder impingement syndrome. This study investigated the recent studies about acupuncture treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome via searching Korean and foreign electronic databases(Research Information Services, National Digital Science Library, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integated Services, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure). The search term was searched by combining ‘shoulder impingement sydrome

Therapeutic procedures in shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) for professionally active people: randomized research

Objectives. Pain and limitation of motions in the glenohumeral joint are frequently the consequence of the shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). Misdiagnosis or improper treatment of the illness may effect in a serious functional impairment of the upper limb. The treatment, dependent on the medical condition, involves: rest, NSAID therapy, physiotherapy as well as kinesitherapeutic procedures. The aim of the research was to conduct a detailed diagnosis of the shoulder impingement syndrome and the efficacy assessment of the matched rehabilitating procedures considering the symptoms.Material and methods. The research was conducted in 39 people aged 30 to 81 treated for SIS. 85% of the respondents were professionally active.In order to assess the efficacy of the therapy the following were carried out: the pain assessment test, functional tests (Neer’s, Ludington’s, Hawkins’, Apley’s, Job’s and the active painful arc test) as well as measurements of the active range of motion of the joint. The patients were subjected to two kinds of physiotherapy – ultrasound therapy (US) procedures and the short wave diathermy (SWD), both connected with procedures aiming at mobilization of the shoulder complex and off-load exercises. The outcome was submitted to statistic analysis. Results. The results obtained in both groups of patients were compared via the Mann-Whitney U test. No significant differences between the SWD and the US groups in the efficacy of the conducted procedures were observed. The data analysis within therapeutic groups revealed the existence of significant differences (p<0,01) before and after the therapy, in the VAS and Laitinen scales as well as in the measurements of the range of motions. Conclusions. The outcome of both conducted therapies in both research groups included: decrease in pain, increase in the range of motions of the glenohumeral joint and improved function of the upper limb. Both procedures may be successfully employed in the treatment of SIS in professionally active people.

Acromioplasty in patients selected for operation by national guidelines

Shoulder impingement syndrome is the most common shoulder disorder. Even though conservative treatment is the primary treatment of choice, surgery has increased substantially in several countries during the last 20 years. This has resulted in recommended clinical guidelines for treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome in countries such as The Netherlands and Denmark during recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an arthroscopic subacromial decompression in 244 patients selected for surgery according to national clinical guidelines. Patients were included from an Internet-based shoulder and elbow database. They were asked to complete 2 questionnaires consisting of the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) and the EuroQol 5-Dimension 3-Level and visual analog scale preoperatively and at 6-month follow-up. All patients were carefully selected for surgery according to the national guidelines, with symptoms persisting for at least 6 months. Furthermore, subgroups related to the OSS were formed to assess the clinical outcome according to preoperative status and age. For the complete study group, an OSS change of 10 (8.8-11.2; P = .0001) was found at 6-month follow-up. No significant difference was found between the genders (P = .17). The largest clinical effect from the intervention was found in the low preoperative OSS (pre-OSS) group, in which a mean change of 17 was found. The moderate and high pre-OSS groups had mean changes of 13 and 5, respectively. Similarly, according to the EuroQol 5-Dimension 3-Level and visual analog scale, the largest improvements were seen in the low and moderate pre-OSS groups. Arthroscopic subacromial decompression is a valid treatment, reducing pain and improving quality of life for patients selected for surgery according to the Danish national guidelines.

Effect of shoulder kinesiotaping versus low level laser in treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome

Effect of shoulder kinesiotaping versus low level laser in treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome

Finnish Subacromial Impingement Arthroscopy Controlled Trial (FIMPACT): a protocol for a randomised trial comparing arthroscopic subacromial decompression and diagnostic arthroscopy (placebo control), with an exercise therapy control, in the treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome

IntroductionArthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD) is the most commonly performed surgical intervention for shoulder pain, yet evidence on its efficacy is limited. The rationale for the surgery rests on the tenet...

Comparison of Subacromial Ketorolac Injection versus Corticosteroid Injection in the Treatment of Shoulder Impingement Syndrome.

Objective:Subacromial impingement syndrome is the most common cause of shoulder pain and restriction in range of motion in the world. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of subacromial injection of ketorolac with the injection of corticosteroid for the treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome.Methods:A total of forty patients were randomly allocated into two groups. Group A received 40 mg of methylprednisolone and Group B received 60 mg of ketorolac as a subacromial injection along with lidocaine. Each patient was evaluated in terms of visual analog scale (VAS) for evaluating pain and Constant's score for function evaluation (pain, activity level, and range of motion with standard goniometry). The patients were re-examined 1 and 3 months after intervention. All the patients educated for simple home exercise.Findings:At 1 and 3 months of follow-up, both treatment arms resulted in an increased range of motion and decreased pain. The difference between the groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In ketorolac group, mean pre- and post-treatment (at 12 weeks) VAS scores were 8.6 (range, 3–9) and 4.5 (range 2–4), respectively. In steroid group, mean pre- and post-treatment (at 12 weeks) VAS scores were 8.3 (range, 3–10) and 3.9 (range, 0–7), respectively. The difference was statistically significant within groups at baseline and 1 (P < 0.001) and 3 (P < 0.001) months after the injection.Conclusion:Subacromial injection of ketorolac has an equivalent outcome to subacromial injection of corticosteroid. The use of ketorolac injections can substantially decrease the pain and increase the range of motion of the shoulder and could be a reasonable alternative in case of corticosteroid contraindications.

No difference in long-term development of rotator cuff rupture and muscle volumes in impingement patients with or without decompression

Background and purpose — Arthroscopic acromioplasty is still commonly used in the treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome, even though its benefits are questioned; randomized controlled studies have not shown any benefits when compared to non-operative treatment. In this randomized study, we investigated whether operative treatment protects from later rotator cuff rupture and whether it has any effect on the development of rotator cuff muscle volume.Patients and methods — 140 stage-II impingement patients were randomized to a structured exercise group (n = 70) or to an operative group (n = 70). In the operative group, arthroscopic acromioplasty was performed, after which a similar structured exercise program was begun. MRI of the shoulder was done at baseline and at 5 years.Results — There were no statistically significant differences in either the amount of perforating ruptures of the supraspinatus tendon or in the changes in muscle volume at 5 years. The grading of muscle fatty degeneration showed worse results in the operative group, but this difference was not statistically significant.Interpretation — In this study, we found that arthroscopic acromioplasty does not have any long-term benefit based on radiological findings of muscle volumes. Also, the frequency of later rotator cuff rupture was similar irrespective of whether or not surgery was performed. Acromioplasty is not justified as a treatment for dynamic shoulder impingement syndrome.

Functional Improvement after Sub-Acromial Corticosteroid Injection in Patient with Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Background: Sub-acromial impingement syndrome (SAIS) is the most common disorder of shoulder. Conservative treatment is the first choice, often with corticosteroid injection or different physiotherapy interventions, or both. So we aimed to assess the mean reduction in shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) score after administration of sub-acromial corticosteroid injections for management of SAIS.Objectives: To determine the mean reduction in SPADI score after administration of Sub-acromial corticosteroid injections for management of sub-acromial impingement syndrome.Material and Methods: The Quasi – experimental study was conducted in Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Hospital Lahore from November 2013 to august 2014. 150 cases were enrolled in this study. Then baseline SPADI score was noted. Patients were injected with sub-acromial injections of 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide mixed with 4.5 ml of 2% lignocaine under aseptic measures. All patients did exercises, consisting of pendulum and range of motion under care of physiotherapist. Each patient was followed-up in OPD for assessment of shoulder function according to SPADI score at 1, 3 and 6 weeks after administration of injection. The result was analyzed by using SPSS version 16.Results: The mean age of the patients was 44.58 ± 11.48 years. There were 46.67% males and 53.33% females in this study. The mean SPADI score of the patients at baseline was noted as 75.94 ± 7.73 which was reduced to 46.25 ± 5.62 after 6 weeks.Conclusion: Our study results concluded that Sub-acromial corticosteroid injection is effective in treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome.

Acupuncture treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundShoulder pain or omalgia is one of the main types of osteoarticular pain that can be observed in every-day clinical practice, frequently causing significant functional impairment. The most common cause of shoulder pain is impingement syndrome. ObjectiveTo decrease the intensity of short- and mid-term pain in the injured shoulder by means of acupuncture. MethodRandomized controlled trial with two groups of participants: one group received true acupuncture (TA) and the other received acupuncture at sham points (SA). The treatment was carried out over 4 weeks, with the participants receiving a session every week. The results were measured immediately after the treatment (T1) and 3 months later (T2). To evaluate the results, we used the 100mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and to assess the functionality of the shoulder we employed the UCLA questionnaire (0–35 points). ResultsA total of 68 participants were included in the analysis (TA, n=35; SA, n=33), with a mean age of 33.4 years (SD 12.53). We found significant differences in the analyzed results between the two groups, as we observed a decrease on the intensity of pain for the TA group of 44.13mm at T1 (CI 95% 36.7; 51.5) and 87.58mm at T2 (CI 95% 28.32; 46.81), while the decrease in the FA group was of 19.84mm at T1 (CI 95% 12.2; 27.4) and 20mm at T2 (CI 95% 10.9; 29.09). When the UCLA scores were analyzed, the results were clinically meaningful in support of TA in terms of functional assessment of the shoulder. No adverse effects were reported. ConclusionsThe use of acupuncture to treat impingement syndrome seems to be a safe and reliable technique to achieve clinically significant results and could be implemented in the therapy options offered by the health services.