Should patients with rotator cuff disease/sub-acromial impingement consider arthroscopic surgery over supervised exercise?
The terms rotator cuff disease and sub-acromial impingement are often used interchangeably.
Brox et al. (1993) conducted a 3-arm randomised controlled trial comparing arthroscopic surgery, supervised exercise, and placebo for patients with rotator cuff disease/sub-acromial impingement.
Results showed that both arthroscopic surgery and supervised exercise significantly improved patients’ pain, range of motion, and function compared to the placebo group; however, there was no difference in patient outcomes between the arthroscopic surgery and supervised exercise groups.
The results of Brox et al. (1993) suggest that supervised exercise is a cost-effective treatment for patients with rotator cuff disease/sub-acromial impingement.
Reference:
Brox, J. I., Staff, P. H., Ljunggren, A. E., & Brevik, J. I. (1993). Arthroscopic surgery compared with supervised exercises in patients with rotator cuff disease (stage II impingement syndrome). BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 307(6909), 899–903. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.307.6909.899.
Image taken from: https://www.experiencept.rehab/blog/rotator