Dose-response effects of graded therapeutic exercises in patients with long-standing subacromial pain

Haringvard Oslashsterarings; Tom Arild Torstensen; Lasse Haugerud; Berit S. Oslashsterarings

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a high-dose versus a low-dose of the same repetitive exercise program in patients with long-standing subacromial pain/impingement. 2 groups of either low or high-dose medical exercise therapy received three treatments a week over a 3-month period. The differences between the groups were: number of repetitions, number of sets and time spent on performing global aerobic exercises. Patients in both the LD group and HD group experienced improvements in functional ability, and the HD group had significant better results compared with the LD group with respect to pain, function, range of motion and isometric strength. However, both groups increased functional ability from pretest to post-test.

There is a dose-response effect when using active graded exercises to treat patients with long-standing subacromial pain.

Advances in Physiotherapy, July 2008, online article ahead of print

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