The Effect of Exercise Therapy and the Impact of Joint Injection in Shoulder Joint Disease Patients with Night Pain Undergoing Physical Therapy

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to demonstrate the usefulness of exercise therapy for night pain improvement in patients with shoulder joint disease undergoing physical treatment. We examined the treatment course by the presence, and effect of joint injection or absence of night pain at the initial evaluation.

Methods: The subjects were 72 patients with unilateral shoulder joint disease undergoing physical treatment. Patients were classified into two groups based on the presence and absence of night pain at the initial evaluation. Then, the subjects in the group with night pain were further classified into two groups according to whether or not joint injection was performed at the initial examination. We analyzed the difference in the treatment course, including range of motion (ROM), visual analogue scale (VAS), and Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) at 1 and 3 months after the start of treatment.

Results: In both groups, courses showed interaction. ROM, VAS on movement, AIS high degree of improvement were obtained in the night pain group. VAS on movement, high degree of improvement were obtained for one month later at the initial evaluation in the joint injection group.

Conclusion: Exercise therapy for patients with shoulder joint disease undergoing physical treatment can improve ROM, VAS, and AIS, regardless of the presence of night pain. In addition, pain can be improved early by joint injection at the initial visit.