In many instances , no or minimal attempts to screen were undertaken or reported .
Background Subacromial shoulder pain is a common clinical presentation with much diagnostic uncertainty .
Some of this uncertainty relates to the involvement of the cervical spine as a source or contribution to subacromial shoulder pain .
Currently , there is no accepted method of screening of the cervical spine in the presence of subacromial shoulder pain , which risks patients receiving misguided and /or ineffective interventions .
Objective To evaluate approaches used to screen the cervical spine in patients with subacromial shoulder pain .
A specific exercise strategy reduced the need for surgery in subacromial pain patients
Background and purpose A programme based on eccentric exercises for treating subacromial pain was in a previous study found effective at 3-month follow-up . The purpose s of the present study were to investigate whether the results were maintained after 1 year and whether the baseline Constant-Murley score , rotator cuff status and radiological findings influenced the outcome . Patients and methods 97 patients on the waiting list for arthroscopic subacromial decompression had been r and omised to a specific exercise programme or unspecific exercises ( controls ) .  After 3 months of exercises , the patients were asked whether they still wanted surgery and this option was available until a 1-year follow-up . 1 year after inclusion or 1 year after surgery , the number of patients who decided to have surgery in each group was compared . The choice of surgery was related to the baseline Constant-Murley score , ultrasound and radiographs taken at inclusion . Results All patients had improved significantly ( p<0.0001 ) in the Constant-Murley score at the 1-year follow-up . Significantly more patients in the control group decided to have surgery ( 63 % ) than those in the specific exercise group ( 24 % ; p<0.0001 ) . Patients who decided to have surgery had a significantly lower baseline Constant-Murley score and more often a full-thickness tear . Patients with partial tears did not differ from those with intact tendons . Interpretation The positive short-term results of specific exercises were maintained after 1 year , and this exercise strategy reduces the need for surgery . Full-thickness tear and a low baseline Constant-Murley score appear to be a predictive marker for a less good outcome . Trial registration number Clinical trials NCT01037673
In many instances , no or minimal attempts to screen were undertaken or reported .
Background Subacromial shoulder pain is a common clinical presentation with much diagnostic uncertainty .
Some of this uncertainty relates to the involvement of the cervical spine as a source or contribution to subacromial shoulder pain .
Currently , there is no accepted method of screening of the cervical spine in the presence of subacromial shoulder pain , which risks patients receiving misguided and /or ineffective interventions .
Objective To evaluate approaches used to screen the cervical spine in patients with subacromial shoulder pain .