Subacromial impingement syndrome: a survey of Italian physiotherapists and orthopaedics on diagnostic strategies and management modalities

Authors

  • Fabrizio Brindisino Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
  • Diego Ristori Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health – University of Genova – Campus of Savona, Savona, Italy
  • Mariangela Lorusso Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
  • Simone Miele Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health – University of Genova – Campus of Savona, Savona, Italy
  • Leonardo Pellicciari Neurorehabilitation Research Laboratory, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
  • Giacomo Rossettini Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health – University of Genova – Campus of Savona, Savona, Italy
  • Francesca Bonetti Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
  • John Duane Heick Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
  • Marco Testa Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health – University of Genova – Campus of Savona, Savona, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40945-020-00087-7

Keywords:

Shoulder impingement syndrome, Orthopaedic manipulative physical therapists, Orthopaedic surgeons, Italian survey, Shoulder pain

Abstract

Background and aim: The subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) represents a common cause of disability in approximately 74% of patients with Shoulder Pain (SP). Even if contemporary research suggests that this mechanism is not (always) the dominant driver in SP, SIS is still a source of debate among scholars and clinicians. From a clinical point of view, evidence has suggested that clinicians can use both medical and physiotherapy approaches as effective methods to treat SIS. This survey aims to investigate models of management of patients with SIS in a sample of Italian physiotherapist specialists (Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists, −OMPTs-) and orthopaedic surgeons. Materials and methods: An online survey with 29-item questionnaire was administered to assess the knowledge of OMPTs and orthopaedic surgeons about: a) strategies of clinical examination; b) the role of imaging in the diagnostic process; c) the physiotherapy management; and d) the pharmacological and surgical management in patients with SIS. Results: Six-hundred and twenty-nine respondents completed the survey (511 OMPTs (79.97%) and 128 orthopaedic surgeons (20.03%)). Ninety-two percent (n = 470) of the OMPTs and 80.5% (n = 103) of orthopaedic surgeons stated that in patients with SIS, a combination of diagnostic tests produced better accuracy (p = < 0.001). Twenty point seven % of OMPTs (n = 106) and 4.7% of orthopaedic surgeon (n = 6) stated that the Lift off was the most specific test (p = < 0.001). Four-hundred-and-twenty-four OMPTs (83%) and 40 orthopaedic surgeons (31.3%) answered that the gold standard for diagnosis of a patient with SIS are history and clinical examination (p < 0.001). Conclusion: OMPTs and orthopaedic surgeons approach patients with SIS differently during both the assessment and the treatment. OMPTs appear to be appropriate in planning and managing clinical examination and therapeutic strategies to use with patients with SIS.

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