Association between changes in pain or function scores and changes in scapular rotations in patients with subacromial shoulder pain: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Scapular dyskinesis is reported as one of the potential factors contributing to the presentation of pain in subacromial shoulder pain. In clinical practice, the evaluation and control of scapular dyskinesis is considered important for managing the subacromial shoulder pain. The aim is to determine the association between changes in pain or function and changes in scapular rotations in participants with subacromial shoulder pain. METHOD: Pain, function and scapular rotations were measured in 25 participants with subacromial shoulder pain at baseline and after 8 weeks. Pain was measured with Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and function was measured with Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS). Scapular rotations were measured with a scapular locator at 60°, 90° and 120° of scapular arm elevation. Spearman rank correlations (r(s)) were used to assess the association between variables. FINDINGS: No association was observed between changes in pain or function scores with changes in scapular upward/downward rotations (r(s) = 0.03 to 0.27 for pain and − 0.13 to 0.23 for function) and scapular anterior/posterior tilt (r(s) = − 0.01 to 0.23 for pain and − 0.13 to 0.08 for function) of arm at 60°, 90° and 120° elevation. Data associated with scapular internal/external rotation was not reported due to low reliability. CONCLUSION: These findings reject associations between changes in pain or function scores and scapular rotations. Future observational study is warranted using a multifactorial approach to understand potential factors that contribute to the presentation of subacromial shoulder pain.