Effect of scapular stabilization exercise program in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: a systematic review

Scapular stabilization approaches have been a mainstay of therapeutic training programs in the recent past for patients with subacromial im-pingement syndrome, whereas its contributions solely in the clinical outcome of reducing shoulder pain and disability are largely unclear. This systematic review aims to evaluate and summarize the best evi-dence regarding the role of scapular stabilization interventions in allevi-ating shoulder dysfunction among subjects with subacromial impinge-ment syndrome. Six reviewers involved in this systematic review. Liter-ature was retrieved systematically through searching 5 electronic data-bases (PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Google Scholar). Articles published from the year 2010 up to and including 2019 were in-cluded. The literature search included clinical trials those intervened subjects with scapular exercises or scapular stabilization exercises or scapular rehabilitation, as an intervention for subacromial impingement syndrome. Seven studies, totaling 228 participants were included in this systematic review. Articles included in this review were graded ac-cording to Lloyd-Smith hierarchy of evidence scale and critically ap-praised with a tool developed by National, Heart, Lung and Blood Insti-tute (United States), named as quality assessment of controlled inter-vention studies tool. There was a significant effect on the scapular sta-bilization exercise program on improving pain and disability among sub-jects with subacromial impingement syndrome. This systematic review provides sufficient evidence to suggest that scapular stabilization exer-cises offers effectiveness in reducing pain and disability among sub-jects with subacromial impingement syndrome. However, more trials with larger sample are needed to provide a more definitive evidence on the clinical outcomes of scapular stabilization exercises among pa-tients with impingement.