Mobilization With Movement as an Additional Treatment to Conventional Physical Therapy in Individuals With Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Shoulder impingement syndrome causes positional fault of the subacromial and soft tissues below the subacromial space. This condition leads to the wrong biomechanics of precise ball and socket kinematics creating maximum concavity compression for shoulder stability. This wrong biomechanics is resulting in the injury of tissue below the subacromial space, such as rotator cuff tendinitis, tears of rotator cuff tendons, and subacromial bursitis. The space between the acromion and humeral was small varying between nine to 14 mm. However, the subacromial space will be decreased during the arm elevation or in the abduction and external rotation position. Some of the researchers defined the shoulder impingement syndrome as the mechanical entrapment of the rotator cuff or the subacromial bursa in the subacromial space. The highest compression of the structures below the subacromial space occurs when people elevate the arm, especially during the shoulder flexion, abduction, and rotation.

The etiology of shoulder impingement syndrome is multifactorial, although a few common causes of the shoulder impingement syndrome were narrowing of the subacromial space and enlargement of the subacromial bursa or rotator cuff tendons. The mechanical factor is believed as the main cause of shoulder impingement syndrome. The postural misalignment and the movement control that makes the improper muscle activation and cause false movement times between acromion and glenoid were shown to associated with the etiology of shoulder impingement syndrome. Individu with the protracted shoulder is frequently associated with the anteriorly tilted and internally rotated of the scapula. The protracted shoulder or forward displacement of the acromion can be measured by the shoulder angle to the seventh cervical spinous process.

The humeral head position depends on the soft tissues surrounding the subacromial region. During arm elevation, the humeral head position should be at the center and adjust anterior translation along with the acromion movement to anterior and lateral. When the humeral head position is faulty or not in the center, because of the anterior inferior glenohumeral ligament cannot restrain the abnormal humeral head translation. This condition leads to decreased subacromial space and irritation to the soft tissue below the acromion which causes the impingement syndrome.

Study protocol This study will recruit shoulder patients around Jakarta city, the age between 20 and 60 years. The patients with shoulder impingement syndrome will be recruited by online brochures and leaflets.

All eligible participants will receive a clear explanation of the purposes, procedures, advantages, and possible risks of this study. Each participant will be asked to sign an informed consent after they understand and accept to participate in this study.