Specific exercises for subacromial pain : Good results maintained for 5 years

Background and purpose — We have previously shown that specific exercises reduced the need for surgery in subacromial painpatients at 1-year follow-up. We have now investigated whetherthis result was maintained after 5 years and compared the outcomesof surgery and non-surgical treatment.Patients and methods — 97 patients were included in the previouslyreported randomized study of patients on a waiting list forsurgery. These patients were randomized to specifi c or unspecifi cexercises. After 3 months of exercises the patients were asked ifthey still wanted surgery and this was also assessed at the present5-year follow-up. The 1-year assessment included Constant–Murley score, DASH, VAS at night, rest and activity, EQ-5D, andEQ-VAS. All these outcome assessments were repeated after 5years in 91 of the patients.Results — At the 5-year follow-up more patients in the specifi cexercise group had declined surgery, 33 of 47 as compared with16 of 44 (p = 0.001) in the unspecifi c exercise group. The meanConstant–Murley score continued to improve between the 1- and5-year follow-ups in both surgically and non-surgically treatedgroups. On a group level there was no clinically relevant changebetween 1 and 5 years in any of the other outcome measuresregardless of treatment.Interpretation — This 5-year follow-up of a previously publishedrandomized controlled trial found that specifi c exercisesreduced the need for surgery in patients with subacromial pain.Patients not responding to specifi c exercises may achieve similargood results with surgery. These fi ndings emphasize that a specifi cexercise program may serve as a selection tool for surgery