Scapular stabilization exercise on pain and functional recovery in people with shoulder impingement syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To investigate the effects of scapular stabilization exercise training on pain and functional recovery in people with shoulder impingement syndrome. Design: A systematic review protocol was registered with PROSPERO. We systematically searched different databases. A random-effects model was used to determine the mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for pain and functional recovery. Heterogeneity among studies was examined using the I2 statistic.

Results: Fourteen studies (666 participants) were included in the analysis. Addition of scapular stabilization-based exercise training to general exercises reduce pain MD - 0.8 cm (95% CI, -1.07 to -0.4; I² = 0%) and improve the functional recovery and shoulder abduction range of motion MD -13.27 (95% CI, -16.85 to -9.69; I² = 5%) and MD 2.74 degrees (95% CI, 0.3 to 5.2; I² = 0%), respectively. However, the certainty of the evidence is low to very low. No significant differences in pain or functional recovery were found between participants in the scapular stabilization-based exercise training with the feedback group and those in the scapular stabilization-based exercise training without the feedback group.

Conclusion: Our findings are promising; however, higher quality RCT is needed to better establish the superiority of the rehabilitation programs that include scapular stabilization exercises.