Functional Massage of the Teres Major Muscle in Patients with Subacromial Impingement Syndrome. A Randomized Controlled Case Series Study
Martín Eusebio Barra-López *
Rehabilitation Service Baix Llobregat Centre, DAP Costa de Ponent, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain and Jordi Gol Institute of Research on Primary Health Care, Barcelona, Spain and Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
María Orosia Lucha-López
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
Sara Castillo-Tomás
FREMAP Mutual Society for Work-related Injuries and Occupational Illness, Arnedo (La Rioja), Spain.
Carlos López-de-Celis
Rehabilitation Service Baix Llobregat Centre, DAP Costa de Ponent, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain and Jordi Gol Institute of Research on Primary Health Care, Barcelona, Spain and Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
Vanessa González-Rueda
Rehabilitation Service Baix Llobregat Centre, DAP Costa de Ponent, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain and Jordi Gol Institute of Research on Primary Health Care, Barcelona, Spain
Edurne Villar-Mateo
Rehabilitation Service Baix Llobregat Centre, DAP Costa de Ponent, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain and Jordi Gol Institute of Research on Primary Health Care, Barcelona, Spain
Ana Domínguez-Cobo
Rehabilitation Service Baix Llobregat Centre, DAP Costa de Ponent, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: Subacromial impingement syndrome is the most common shoulder condition. Myofascial trigger points in teres major muscle can be associated with this syndrome. Our objective is to determine whether adding manual therapy specifically for teres major trigger points can produce better results in these patients.
Study Design: Randomized controlled case series.
Place and Duration of Study: Public Primary Care Center in the Spanish National Health System (Cornellà de Llobregat - Barcelona) and the FREMAP Mutual Society for Work-related Injuries and Occupational Illness (Arnedo - La Rioja), between January and March 2014.
Methodology: Fifty-eight people were recruited but 8 subjects were lost during the follow-up period. The sample consisted of 50 patients (17 male and 33 female, age range 23-80 years) randomly assigned to one of two groups: the intervention group or the control group. Both groups received a protocolized physical therapy treatment, while the intervention group also received manual therapy for teres major trigger points.
Results: Pain intensity (p=.01) and function (p=.01) showed significant improvement in the control group, whereas pain intensity (p=.01), function (p=.01) and active range of motion (p=.01) showed significant improvement in the intervention group. Between-group differences were statistically significant for abduction (p=.01), extension (p=.02) and lateral rotation (p=.02), and clinically significant (Cohen’s d) for function, flexion, extension, lateral rotation and abduction.
Conclusion: Although our findings must be considered as preliminary, they suggest that adding manual therapy to treat teres major trigger points achieves better results in the glenohumeral range of motion.
Keywords: Functional massage, subacromial impingement syndrome, manual therapy, teres major muscle, physical therapy.