Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy Exercise Trial
Condition: Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
MeSH terms: Tendinopathy; Rotator Cuff Injuries
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This study aims at determine if Progressive Heavy Load Exercises (PHLE) as treatment for
      patients diagnosed with Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy is superior to "Standard Low-Load
      Exercises" (LLE).
    

Detailed description: 
      The trial will be performed as a multicenter randomised controlled trail, including 110
      patients diagnosed with Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy from four orthopaedic shoulder clinics in
      secondary sector in Denmark.

      The PHLE intervention will consist of progressive strengthening exercises performed with
      heavy load dumbbells, targeting the rotator cuff in a 12 weeks home-exercise program with six
      control visits at a physiotherapy department at the hospitals.

      The LLE exercise program consists of the same exercises as the PHLE, but performed with low
      load dumbbells.

      "Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire" is used as the primary
      outcome and is measured 12 weeks post baseline.

      12 months post baseline a secondary follow-up will be performed primarily measuring the
      number of patients referred to an operation.

      Patients will be randomised to either PHLE or LLE regime by blocks according to whether they
      have been referred to corticosteroid injection by their orthopaedic shoulder specialist.

      *April 2015: (We originally expected to be able to include 260 patients in order to analyze
      our data according to the sub-groups of exercise group +/- Corticosteroid injection, but
      inclusion rate has been much lower then expected, and due to time restraints we only expect
      to include 110 patients)

      Primary investigator and patients will be blinded towards group assignment.
    

Intervention name(s): Low Load Exercises; Progressive Heavy Strength Exercises
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): All rotator cuff and scapular exercises are performed with 3 sets of 20 repetitions 3 times per week for 12 weeks. The load is set at around 60% of 1 RM (20 reps).
The glenohumeral/postural corrective exercises are performed with 3 sets of 5 repetitions (The position is held for 15 seconds per repetition).; All scapular exercises are performed with 3 sets of 20 repetitions 3 times per week for 12 weeks. The load is set at around 60% of 1 RM (20 reps).
The rotator cuff exercises are performed with 4 sets of gradually progressive loading and decreasing the repetitions performed in each set.
Week 1: 15reps (70% 1RM) Week 2-3: 12 reps (75% 1RM) Week 4-5: 10 reps (80% 1RM) Week 6-8: 8 reps (85% 1RM) Week 9-12: 6 reps (90% 1RM)
The glenohumeral/postural corrective exercises are performed with 3 sets of 5 repetitions (The position is held for 15 seconds per repetition).
Other intervention name(s): Scapular stabilization; Rotator Cuff; Exercise; Physiotherapy; Posture; Progressive exercise; Strength training; Scapular stabilization; Rotator Cuff; Exercise; Physiotherapy; Posture; Progressive exercise; Strength training
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Shoulder; Impingement; Rotator Cuff Syndrome; Subacromial Impingement Syndrome; Exercise; Physiotherapy