Investigating Recommended Rehabilitation Exercises and Their Associated Biomechanical Rationale for the Conservative Management of Subacromial Impingement Syndrome and/or Rotator Cuff Tears

Rotator cuff (RC) tears and subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS) are highly prevalent shoulder conditions among older adults. There is currently no consensus on the most effective exercise strategy for the treatment of SAIS and/or RC tears, and the biomechanical rationale for proposed exercises is often not described. A systematic literature search was performed and 136 articles were included. Intervention details, results for primary outcomes of interest (pain, self-reported function, strength and biomechanical outcomes), and secondary outcomes (surgical delay, corticosteroid injections/pain-relieving medication, secondary complications) were reported and effect sizes were calculated. A list of 41 exercises identified to improve outcomes of interest was generated with associated biomechanical rationale, subdivided in seven categories based on exercise type, providing a resource for clinicians for the management of SAIS and/or RC tears. Further investigation of identified exercises is required to assess their effect on the management of SAIS and RC tears.