Effect of glenohumeral stabilization exercises combined with scapular stabilization on shoulder function in patients with shoulder pain: A randomized controlled experimenter-blinded study

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Shoulder stabilization exercises consisted of a glenohumeral stabilization and scapular stabilization. No studies have been assessed the superiority of shoulder stabilization until now.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the effect of a glenohumeral stabilization exercise (GSE) combined with a scapular stabilization exercise (SSE) on changes in shoulder function in patients with shoulder pain

METHODS:

Shoulder stability, scapular alignment, pain, muscle power, and range of motion (ROM) were measured before and after the intervention in both groups.

RESULTS:

Forty subjects with shoulder pain were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. GSE in the experimental group ( $n=$ 20) resulted in significantly better shoulder stability ( $P=$ 0.020, from 9.00 $\pm$ 6.90 score to 14.25 $\pm$ 8.58) and pain intensity ( $P=$ 0.042, 7.40 $\pm$ 2.44 score to 4.60 $\pm$ 2.06) compared to SSE in the controls ( $n=$ 20). However, no significant effects were observed for scapular symmetric alignment including the angles of inferior scapular distance ( $P=$ 0.555) and inferior scapular height difference ( $P=$ 0.770), muscle power including shoulder flexion ( $P=$ 0.942) and shoulder abduction ( $P=$ 0.551), or ROM including shoulder flexion ( $P=$ 0.852) and shoulder abduction ( $P=$ 0.622).

CONCLUSION:

This study suggests that GSE positively affects shoulder stability and pain control in patients with shoulder pain, probably through a centralization effect on the shoulder mechanism.