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BACKGROUND: Nocturnal shoulder pain is seen in patients with rotator cuff tears. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether Doppler ultrasound parameters predict the intensity of nocturnal pain in patients with rotator cuff tears. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with rotator cuff tears were included. Doppler ultrasound parameters (peak systolic velocity in the anterior humeral circumflex artery, Doppler activity in the glenohumeral joint and subacromial space) and clinical parameters were examined. For the presence of nocturnal pain, the clinical parameters were compared with and without nocturnal pain. For the intensity of the nocturnal pain, a multivariate analysis of clinical parameters and nocturnal pain intensity was performed. RESULTS: In all, 39 patients (65%) reported nocturnal pain, and the mean pain intensity was 47.0 (standard deviation, 26.0) on the visual analogue scale. In nocturnal pain presence analysis, Doppler activity in the subacromial space showed significant associations (p < 0.001). In nocturnal pain intensity analysis, Doppler activity in the subacromial space and diabetes showed significant associations (p < 0.001, p = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Doppler activity in the subacromial space emerges as an independent factor associated with the presence and intensity of nocturnal pain in patients with rotator cuff tears. Our findings may provide a basis for further exploration and refinement of treatment strategies.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Subacromial pain syndrome is a common problem in primary care. Although several randomized controlled trials have shown that eccentric exercise is effective in patients with subacromial pain syndrome, its generalizability to real-world clinical practice is unknown. This study aimed to investigate, using propensity score analysis, the generalizability of eccentric exercise for patients with subacromial pain syndrome to real-world daily clinical practice. METHODS: In this study, 78 patients underwent eccentric exercise in addition to traditional exercise, and 77 patients underwent only traditional exercise for 4 weeks. Outcomes measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Society Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) scores were assessed at baseline and at 4 weeks. RESULTS: In the propensity score-matched analysis, 65 patients in each group were successfully matched (130 of 155 patients, 84% overall). After 4 weeks of exercise, pain intensity was lower in the eccentric exercise group than in the traditional exercise group (VAS -14.5, 95% CI -21.2 to -7.9, P<0.001). No significant difference in the improvement in function was found between the two groups (ASES 4.1, 95% CI -2.0 to 10.2, P=0.18). CONCLUSIONS: Eccentric and traditional exercise in combination could reduce pain in patients with subacromial pain syndrome to a greater extent than traditional exercise alone. These findings have clinical relevance to primary care practitioners who provide conservative treatment for patients with subacromial pain syndrome.