Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines on Selected Rehabilitation Interventions for Shoulder Pain

Philadelphia Panel – John Albright, Richard Allman, Richard Paul Bonfiglio, Alicia Conill, Bruce Dobkin, Andrew A Guccione, Scott M Hasson, Randolph Russo, Paul Shekelle,  Jeffrey L Susman, Lucie Brosseau, Peter Tugwell, George A Wells, Vivian A Robinson, Ian D Graham, Beverley J Shea, Jessie McGowan,Joan Peterson,Lucie Poulin, Michel Tousignant, Hélène Corriveau, Michelle Morin, Lucie Pelland, Lucie Laferrière, Lynn Casimiro, Louis E Tremblay.

The Philadelphia Panel also developed evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for selected rehabilitation interventions for the management of shoulder pain. The results showed that only 1 positive recommendation of clinical benefit was developed. Ultrasound provided clinically important pain relief relative to a control for patients with calcific tendinitis in the short term (less than 2 months). There was good agreement with this recommendation from practitioners (75%). For several interventions and indications (eg, thermotherapy, therapeutic exercise, massage, electrical stimulation, mechanical traction), there was a lack of evidence regarding efficacy. The authors conclude that further well-designed RCTs are warranted regarding the use of several interventions for patients with shoulder pain where evidence was insufficient to make recommendations.

Physical Therapy, Vol. 81, No. 10, October 2001, pp. 1719-1730

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