Analysis of descriptions of therapeutic exercise procedures in the rehabilitation of patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: assessment using the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT checklist)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic exercises are the method of choice for conservative treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome. However, due to poor content reporting of exercise in clinical trials there are limitations in interpretation and replication of these trials’ methods and results. In 2016 the CERT (Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template) was developed to address this problem. AIM: To evaluate the completeness of content reporting of exercise interventions in clinical trials for patients with subacromial impingement syndrome using CERT and implement the principles of CERT into our own practice by describing an original therapeutic exercise protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search was conducted for scientific articles published from October 2016, that mentioned therapeutic exercises as a treatment method for subacromial impingement syndrome. Then, the CERT was applied to 34 selected publications, the data was analyzed and compared with similar studies. A description of an original therapeutic exercise protocol was conducted in accordance with the principles of CERT. RESULTS: The mean CERT score was 9,9 (52,17%); median 10; range 4–18; 19 (55,88%) trials had a CERT score of ≥10, while the remaining 15 (44,12%) scored 10. The most poorly reported items were description of instructor qualifications (2), individual or group (3), motivation strategies (6), progression rule (7a), adverse events (11), tailored (how) (14b), starting level rule (15), adherence (planned and actual) (16a, 16b). Only 50% of studies included data on adherence report (5). CONCLUSION: The description of therapeutic exercises for patients with subacromial impingement syndrome in published trials remains poorly reported. Proper critical analysis of studies using CERT should be taken into account when assessing the effectiveness of ongoing research investigating therapeutic gymnastics.