Shoulder and Neck Clinical Trial
Official title:
The Addition of Cervical Unilateral Posterior Anterior Mobilization (UPA) in the Treatment of Patients With Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial
The objective of this study is to investigate whether treatment directed at the neck and
shoulder is more beneficial than treatment directed solely at the shoulder; for patients
with shoulder impingement syndrome.
(The hypothesis is that patients who receive neck mobilization will improve at a more
significant rate than those who do not receive neck mobilization)
All treatment will be provided by licensed physical therapist within the United States. The
clinicians affiliated with this study have experience in data collection and have
participated in a recent trial that was sponsored by Walsh University.
At baseline, after consent for the study, patients will be randomized into two groups: 1)
shoulder treatment and active mobilization to the neck and 2) shoulder treatment and placebo
mobilization to the neck. Baseline data will be collected including all self-report
measures.
Both groups will receive shoulder treatment with an emphasis on 1) range of motion
activities, 2) joint mobilization, 3) rotator cuff strengthening and 4) a home exercise
program that consists of shoulder strengthening exercises. The active neck group will
receive UPA's to the cervical spine; applied as 3 X 30 seconds, to each comparable (stiff or
painful) segment. The physical therapist will place their hands on the neck of the patient
for the placebo group but will not perform the oscillations that are characteristic of
mobilization.
All patients will receive a home program designed to increase range of motion and strength.
None of the home program focused exercises will be targeted to the neck. The shoulder
exercises will be tailored to each specific patient and will not be standardized.
Patients will be treated for the duration of their care using the same foci (1) range of
motion activities, 2) joint mobilization, 3) rotator cuff strengthening and 4) a home
exercise program that consists of shoulder strengthening exercises). The length of the
treatment will be determined by the progress of the patient and by the attending therapist.
;
Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment