| Objective:Rotator cuff injury is one of the most common diseases that lead to shoulder pain,dysfunction,and limited joint activity.Its incidence accounts for 17%-41% of all shoulder diseases.Rotator cuff injury is often caused by overuse or trauma.Its conservative treatment mainly uses drugs,physical therapy and traditional Chinese medicine,but there are certain limitations.Sling Exercise Therapy(SET)is a physical therapy method that enables the whole or part of people to actively train under the condition of reducing the influence of gravity by means of a sling training device,which can achieve the purpose of improving muscle strength and muscle endurance,improving proprioception and motor control ability.In this study,the sling exercise therapy was applied to the treatment of rotator cuff injury in college students and compared with the conventional rehabilitation therapy.The differences of the effects of the two methods on the shoulder joint function of patients with rotator cuff injury were observed.It is expected to provide a new treatment method for patients with rotator cuff injury,promote the clinical application of sling exercise therapy,and improve the health and athletic level of sports people.Methods:Forty-five patients with rotator cuff injury who met the inclusion criteria were recruited and selected from the college students of Xi’an Physical Education University.They were randomly divided into medium frequency electrotherapy group,conventional group and sling group.At the same time,they were given rehabilitation treatment three times a week for 6 weeks:(1)medium frequency electrotherapy group was given medium frequency electrotherapy;(2)The conventional group received joint mobilization + elastic belt shoulder strength training + medium frequency electrotherapy;(3)The sling group received sling exercise therapy + conventional rehabilitation therapy + medium frequency electrotherapy.Before and 6 weeks after the intervention,the shoulder function of each group was evaluated.The evaluation indicators included visual analogue scale(VAS),shoulder pain and dysfunction scale(SPADI),SF-36 health survey scale,shoulder range of motion(ROM),upper limb ybalance test,and muscle strength test(micro FET3 muscle strength instrument).Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 23.0 statistical software using one-way ANOVA and paired t-test to test the level α= 0.05.Results:(1)Finally,a total of 39 individuals completed the experimental study,13 in each group.There were no significant differences in the general data of subjects among the three groups before the intervention,or in the comparison of baseline data at the initial assessment(P > 0.05);(2)Visual pain analog scale(VAS)assessment:(1)intra group comparison: after6 weeks of intervention,all the groups showed a decrease compared to the pre intervention(P < 0.01)Between groups: after 6 weeks of intervention,scores in both the sling and conventional groups were lower than those in the midfrequency group(P< 0.05),with no significant difference between the sling and conventional groups(P >0.05).(3)Assessment of shoulder pain and functional disability scale(SPADI):(1)within group comparison: after 6 weeks of intervention,the scores of pain and function in each group were reduced compared to those before intervention(P < 0.01)Comparison between groups: after 6 weeks of intervention,in terms of pain,scores in both the sling and conventional groups were lower than those in the midfrequency group(P < 0.05),and there was no significant difference between the sling group and the conventional group(P > 0.05).In terms of function,scores in both the sling group and the conventional group were lower than those in the midfrequency group(P <0.01),and scores in the sling group were lower than those in the conventional group(P < 0.01).(4)Assessment of SF-36 Health Survey Scale:(1)intragroup comparison: after 6weeks of intervention,the physical health(PHC)score and mental health(MHC)score of each group increased compared with those before intervention(P < 0.01);(2)Between groups: after 6 weeks of intervention,in terms of physical health(PHC),scores in both the sling and conventional groups were higher than those in the midfrequency group(P < 0.05),and there was no significant difference between the sling group and the conventional group(P > 0.05).For mental health(MHC),there was no significant difference between groups(P > 0.05).(5)Assessment of shoulder mobility(ROM):(1)intragroup comparison: after 6weeks of intervention,the mobility of each direction in both the sling and conventional groups increased compared with that before intervention(P < 0.01),and the mobility of each direction in the medium frequency group showed no significant difference compared with that before intervention(P > 0.05)Comparisons between groups: after 6 weeks of intervention,the activity in all directions was greater(P <0.05)in both the sling and conventional groups than in the midfrequency group,and the activity in forward flexion and external rotation was greater(P < 0.05)in the sling group than in the conventional group.(6)Upper limb y-blance test evaluation:(1)intragroup comparison: after 6 weeks of intervention,the numerical value and total score of each direction in both the sling and conventional groups increased compared with those before intervention(P <0.01),while the numerical value and total score of each direction in the medium frequency group showed no significant difference compared with those before intervention(P > 0.05)Between groups: after 6 weeks of intervention,the values and total scores in each direction in the sling group were higher than those in the conventional(P < 0.05)and mid frequency(P < 0.01)groups,the values of the external superior,external inferior and total scores in the conventional group were higher than those in the mid frequency group(P < 0.05),but there was no significant difference between the positive and mid frequency groups(P > 0.05).(7)Assessment of muscle strength test: I)intragroup comparison: after 6 weeks of intervention,the values of forward flexion,backward extension,adduction and abduction directions in both the sling and conventional groups were increased compared with those before intervention(P < 0.05),while the values of internal rotation and external rotation directions were not significantly different from those before intervention(P > 0.05),and II)the values of each direction in the medium frequency group were not significantly different from those before intervention(P >0.05)Comparisons between groups: after 6 weeks of intervention,there was no significant difference(P > 0.05).But from the change ratio,the change ratio of muscle force in all directions was higher in the sling group than in the conventional group and the sling group.Conclusions:(1)Both sling exercise therapy and conventional rehabilitation therapy can significantly improve the shoulder joint function,pain,life and health status,range of motion,stability,and muscle strength in college students with rotator cuff injury.(2)Compared with conventional rehabilitation therapy,sling exercise therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation therapy can more effectively improve the range of motion,shoulder joint function,stability,and muscle strength of college students with rotator cuff injury.However,there is no significant difference in pain and health status compared to conventional rehabilitation therapy.(3)Sling exercise therapy can effectively improve the shoulder joint performance of college students with rotator cuff injury during upper limb over head movement,and can faster recover and improve the shoulder joint function of patients. |
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