This academic article synthesizes existing systematic reviews to update recommendations for non-surgical physical therapy interventions for subacromial shoulder pain (SSP).
It highlights exercise therapy as the strongly recommended primary treatment, often benefiting from the addition of manual therapy.
The review also evaluates other common interventions, finding conflicting evidence for multimodal therapy and corticosteroid injections, and concluding a lack of effectiveness for modalities like laser, ultrasound, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, and pulsed electromagnetic energy.
Ultimately, it emphasizes the strengthening evidence for exercise while acknowledging the need for further research on optimal exercise specifics and manual therapy application.
(Pieters L, Lewis J, Kuppens K, Jochems J, Bruijstens T, Joossens L, et al. An update of systematic reviews examining the effectiveness of conservative physical therapy interventions for subacromial shoulder pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther [Internet]. 2020;50(3):131–41. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2020.8498)