Objectives
To explore the outcome domains and measurement instruments reported in published randomized controlled trials of physical therapy interventions for shoulder pain (rotator cuff disease, adhesive capsulitis, or nonspecific shoulder pain).
Study Design and Setting
We included trials comparing physical therapy to any other intervention for shoulder pain, indexed up to March 2015 in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, or CINAHL Plus. Two authors independently selected trials for inclusion and extracted information on the domains and measurement instruments reported.
Results
We included 171 trials. Most trials measured pain (87%), function (72%), and range of movement (67%), whereas adverse events, global assessment of treatment success, strength, and health-related quality of life were measured in 18–27% of trials, and work disability and referral for surgery were measured in less than 5% of trials. Thirty-five different measurement instruments for pain and 29 for function were noted. Measurement of function increased markedly from 1973 to 2014. In rotator cuff disease trials, there was a more frequent measurement of pain and strength and a less frequent measurement of range of movement compared with adhesive capsulitis trials.
Conclusions
There was wide diversity in the domains and measurement instruments reported. Our results provide the foundation for the development of a core domain and outcome measurement set for use in future shoulder pain trials.
Matthew J. Pagea,b, Joanne E. McKenziea, Sally E. Greena, Dorcas E. Beatonc, Nitin B. Jaind,e, Mario Lenzaf, Arianne P. Verhageng, Stephen Suraceh,i, Jessica Deitchh,i, and Rachelle Buchbinderh,i,*
aSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 1, 549 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia bSchool of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK cDepartment of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1V7, Canada dDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2201 Children’s Way, Suite 1318, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA eDepartment of Orthopaedics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 215 Light Hall, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA fHospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Avenida Albert Einstein, 627/701 - Morumbi, São Paulo, 05652-900, Brazil gDepartment of General Practice, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands hMonash Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Cabrini Institute, Monash University, 183 Wattletree Road, Malvern, Victoria, 3144, Australia iDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 6, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
Disease Category: Orthopaedics & trauma, Rheumatology
Disease Name: Adhesive capsulitis, Rotator cuff disease
Age Range: 16 - 100
Sex: Either
Nature of Intervention: Physiotherapy, Physical
- None
- Systematic review of outcomes measured in trials
- Systematic review of outcome measures/measurement instruments
- Systematic review
We included trials comparing physical therapy to any other intervention for shoulder pain, indexed up to March 2015 in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, or CINAHL Plus. Two authors independently selected trials for inclusion and extracted information on the domains and measurement instruments reported.