Substantiation of the possibility of using osteopathic correction in the complex treatment of patients with shoulder-shoulder pain syndrome
Authors: Emelyanova Ch. K. , Zolkova O. V. , Kozlova N. S. 
Published: February 2023

Introduction. Shoulder pain is one of the most common causes of disability in the population. Modern approaches to the treatment of shoulder pain syndrome give preference to the use of drug therapy. However, frequent side effects remain relevant the wider introduction of non-pharmacological methods of treatment. Osteopathy is one of such promising method. In this regard, the assessment of the effectiveness of osteopathic correction of patients with humeroscapular pain syndrome is in demand.

The aim to substantiate the possibility of using osteopathic correction in the complex treatment of patients with shoulder pain syndrome.

Materials and methods. The study involved 40 patients with shoulder pain syndrome. By the method of randomization using randomization envelopes, the 20 patients were included in the control group and the 20 patients in the main group. Participants of the control group received standard drug and physiotherapy treatment, participants of the main group additionally received a course of osteopathic correction. In both groups, before and after treatment, there were assessed the osteopathic status, the severity of pain syndrome by a 10-point visual analogue scale, the state (functioning) of the shoulder joints, and daily life activities by a 30-point Swanson scale. The duration of temporary disability in both groups was also recorded.

Results. At the start of the study, a number of regional (most often — the neck region, structural component, and the chest region — visceral and structural component) and local (most often — the shoulder joint and temporomandibular joint) somatic dysfunctions were detected in patients with humeroscapular syndrome. After treatment in the main group, a statistically significant (p<0,05) positive dynamics was recorded in relation to disorders of the neck region (structural component), thoracic region (visceral and structural component), and pelvic region (structural component). In the control group, significant positive dynamics was observed only in relation to disorders of the thoracic region (visceral component). The groups began to differ significantly (p<0,05) by the disorders detection frequency of the neck and pelvis region (structural component). Also a statistically significant (p<0,05) positive dynamics was recorded in relation to disorders of the shoulder joint and temporomandibular joint in the main group, and in the control group it was detected only in relation to the shoulder joint disorders. At the start of the study, patients in both groups were characterized by a fairly intense pain syndrome (mean score over seven in both groups). After treatment, significant (p<0,05) positive dynamics was observed in both groups, but in the main group the result was significantly (p<0,05) more pronounced: 1,6±0,89 points in the main group versus 2,7±0,86 points in the control group. The shoulder joints state and the daily life activity at the study start moment were characterized by relatively low rates — the average total value was no more than 15 points in both the control and main groups. After the treatment, significant (p<0,05) positive dynamics was observed in both groups, but in the main group the result was more pronounced: 28,0±1,86 points in the main group versus 22,1±2,34 points in the control group (p<0,05). The average duration of temporary disability in days was 8,1±1,07 days in the main group and 15,0±1,84 days in the control group, the difference between the groups is statistically significant (p<0,05).

Conclusion. Based on the obtained results, it can be assumed that osteopathic correction included in the complex treatment contributes to faster recovery of the patient, improvement of the shoulder joint functioning, pain relief and increased daily life activity, and this allows us to recommend it for use in patients with such pathology.