Rehabilitation of Primary and Secondary Rotator Cuff Impingement

Kamkar and colleagues²⁰ have identified scapular weakness as leading to “function scapular instability,” which affects scapular position during activities that cause a “relative decrease in the subacromial space.” This secondary impingement requires the scapulothoracic muscles to be strengthened and stabilized before specific rotator cuff weakness can be addressed. Scapula thoracic articulation is known to many clinicians as the true core of the upper extremity. To effectively stabilize the humeral head so that it does not migrate superiorly, causing “winging” or “tipping,” the scapular muscles (serratus anterior; upper, middle, and lower trapezius; levator scapulae; and rhomboid muscles) must be strengthened.^17,20,42 Thein⁴² describes the clinical features of humeral head migration (secondary impingement) as possibly confusing the typical impingement picture. She reports, “If the supraspinatus is overworked trying to stabilize the humeral head, then it is unable to effectively function to depress the humeral head. The resultant upward movement decreases the subacromial space and irritates the subacromial soft tissues, thus perpetuating the impingement process.”

The initial evaluation performed by the PT is crucial in determining which exercises are to be performed to help stabilize the scapula and which should be avoided initially to reduce rotator cuff irritation with glenohumeral instability or superior migration of the humeral head.

Scapular stabilization exercises are only one component of a successful rehabilitation program.⁹ In general a comprehensive rehabilitation program to address rotator cuff impingement, rotator cuff tendinitis (supraspinatus tendinitis), and degenerative tears of the rotator cuff tendons include modification of activities, local and systemic methods to control pain and swelling (nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], corticosteroid injections, ice, ultrasound, iontophoresis, phonophoresis), stretching and strengthening exercises, and a return to normal function after reevaluation by the PT and with continued maintenance of protective positions and general conditioning.^13,15

The nonoperative treatment of impingement and symptomatic rotator cuff tears focuses on a three-phase, criterion-based rehabilitation program. The three phases of rehabilitation are as follows: (1) phase I, prefunctional; (2) phase II, return to function; and finally, (3) phase III, return to activity. Phase I, prefunctional, concentrates on relief of symptoms and initiating exercises to improve or maintain motion. Because impingement symptoms are usually made worse with overhead activities, the patient must modify activities of daily living (ADLs) and all other motions that may place the shoulder at or above 80° to 90° elevation. Home activities that require modification include cleaning hard-to-reach places and painting overhead. Work site tasks that must be adapted include heavy overhead lifting, manual labor, reaching, and climbing. Sporting activities such as tennis, golf, swimming, and baseball also must be modified to avoid impingement. The key to remember in each case is modification, not elimination, of compromising activities. For example, for a recreational tennis player, overhead serving should be avoided but all other ground strokes may be able to be maintained. For household activities and work site modifications, rearrangement and advanced planning of overhead tasks may be all that is needed to minimize the aggravating position of elevation past 80° or 90°. The PTA must constantly reinforce the concept of protective positioning and should encourage compliance throughout the course of rehabilitation.

In addition to activity modification, management of pain and swelling can be achieved with various physician-prescribed oral NSAIDs and physical therapy agents. Usually ice packs, ultrasound, some type of pharmacophoresis (iontophoresis and phonophoresis), and most recently, infrared laser application, are used to help control symptoms.

Throughout phase I, stretching exercises are performed to increase blood flow and contractility¹⁵ and improve motion. The PTA must pay particular attention to performing all stretching activities, because many generalized shoulder stretches involve full forward shoulder elevation and abduction maneuvers. All phase I stretching should encourage nonballistic, slow, controlled, pain-free motion at less than 80° to 90° of elevation. Capsular mobility has been shown to be very helpful in increasing motion and preparing the surrounding muscles to assist in shoulder elevation in all planes of motion.^26,34 However, once symptoms are managed the patient can perform all stretches involving elevation and abduction if these stretches do not produce symptoms. Depending on the initial evaluation data gathered by the PT, the patient may be instructed in two specific stretches that authorities¹⁵ suggest are effective in addressing posterior capsular tightness. Shoulder adduction across the chest (cross-body stretching) and internal shoulder rotation are used cautiously to improve posterior capsular tightness and overcome the limitations on motion of internal rotation of the shoulder. The effective use of the sleeper stretch to increase posterior capsular mobility has been reported. The concept of anterior capsular mobility has been presented as important for shoulder mobility to treat or prevent impingement while regaining horizontal abduction to prepare for tri-plane overhead motion.²⁵

Initial strengthening activities that can begin during phase I generally include scapula stabilization exercises and light rotator cuff strengthening. The use of closed kinetic chain loading such as wall push-ups can be an effective pain-free low level muscle recruitment exercise. Closed kinetic chain (CKC) exercises will provide co-contraction and tri-plane stabilization with lower muscle contraction load than open kinetic (OKC) chain exercises.5,46 Once the patient demonstrates improved motion and can do ADLs without pain, a progression through a series of OKC muscle strengthening can begin. Prone extension to the hip, side-lying external rotation, and scaption elevation without pain are some recommended exercises for rotator cuff recruitment toward strengthening (Fig. 21-2).³⁸ Specific rotator cuff strengthening exercises should focus on the supraspinatus muscle.³⁸ Studies demonstrate that the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, deltoid, latissimus dorsi, and pectoral muscles are effectively strengthened by arm elevation in the transverse plane, shoulder elevation with neutral rotation in the plane of the scapula (Fig. 21-3), prone horizontal shoulder abduction with external rotation (Fig. 21-4), and seated press-ups.³⁰

Phase II, return to function, progresses with advanced scapular stabilization exercises that are encouraged as part of a comprehensive glenohumeral and scapulothoracic strengthening program. This phase of program uses progressive resistive strengthening via increased resistance while using OKC exercises. Electromyographic studies³³ have identified four basic scapular stabilization exercises that strengthen the upper, middle, and lower trapezius; the levator scapula; the rhomboid major; the pectoralis minor; and the middle and lower serratus anterior muscles.⁸ The exercises are rowing, scapular plane elevation (scaption), press-ups, and push-ups followed by scapular protraction. As strength improves and when motion increases, a gradual return to normal function signifies the beginning of phase III, return to activity.⁴⁴

The process of functional recovery is slow and must be done cautiously; overhead activities are introduced incrementally as the patient is able to demonstrate pain-free motion and the ability to perform strengthening activities. Some advanced return to activity phase exercises can include oscillatory training (Bodyblade) using tri-plane positioning (Fig. 21-5).⁴⁰

Surgical Management of Shoulder Impingement and Rotator Cuff Tears

When physical therapy interventions fail to provide long-lasting relief and in cases of rotator cuff tears (Neer’s stage III impingement, tendon degeneration, and cuff tears), various surgical procedures can be used to correct the underlying pathologic condition. With subacromial impingement not involving a specific rotator cuff tear, subacromial decompression (SAD) can be used to eliminate or diminish the abnormality causing the impingement between the humeral head and the undersurface of the acromion, allowing freer movement of the tendons without irritation. Acromioplasty includes beveling or reshaping of the acromion with detachment of the coracoacromial ligament. Distal clavicle excision (DCE) may also be involved.³⁹ If there is an associated rotator cuff tear (small tear less than 1 cm, medium tear less than 3 cm, large tear greater than 5 cm), a SAD procedure is used in conjunction with direct repair of the rotator cuff defect. The SAD procedure can be performed as an open arthrotomy or as an arthroscopic procedure.³⁹

Rehabilitation after SAD or rotator cuff repair closely parallels nonoperative rehabilitation of rotator cuff impingement. However, time must be allowed for healing of the soft tissues and bone after surgery. Some clearly identified differences exist between rehabilitation procedures used for decompression and small cuff tears (less than 1 cm) and repairs of medium (less than 2 to 3 cm) and large (greater than 4 to 5 cm) cuff tears with SAD.³⁹ With a small cuff tear repaired in conjunction with a decompression procedure, active motion and pain-free exercise can begin as soon as the patient can tolerate these activities.^39,44 However, if the rotator cuff tear is between 2 and 5 cm, tissue protection must be longer to allow for extensive soft-tissue healing. If full active range of motion (AROM) is allowed too early, healing of the rotator cuff may be compromised because of the stresses placed on the repaired tissues. The type of surgical procedure used, mini-open procedure or arthroscopic approach; the healing constraints must be considered for proper beginning of successful rehabilitation. Large cuff tears may require longer periods of time for recovery to achieve improved healing.¹⁵

Generally, recovery after SAD with or without rotator cuff repair follows a prescribed three-phase rehabilitation program.42,44 Phase I, the prefunctional phase, lasts approximately 3 to 4 weeks^39,44 and focuses on control of pain and swelling with NSAIDs, oral analgesics, ice packs, ultrasound, phonophoresis (if needed), infrared therapy, and various degrees and durations of manual range of motion (ROM), depending on the extent of tissue injury. The concept of early protected manual motion applies depending on the precise nature of the injury and which surgical procedure is used. The prefunctional phase should include increasing ROM, scapula stabilization beginning with retraction, and adding protraction when the patient has pain-free arm control.

With small rotator cuff repairs (less than 1 cm), isometric submaximal muscle sets of the shoulder extensors, flexors, abductors, external rotators, and internal rotators can begin as early as pain allows. Active assisted ROM (AAROM) activities beginning with manual exercise must be performed pain free. Active biceps and triceps exercises are performed in the neutral humerus position beginning with isometrics then progress to light resistive exercises. ROM and strength gradually increase as pain and swelling are controlled.

At the end of this phase, the initial use of the upper body ergometer (UBE) may be introduced. The early use of CKC activity with double-arm wall push-ups may be helpful for low level recruitment of shoulder muscles.44,46 With increased arm control strength and motion, phase II, the return to function phase, can begin. It generally lasts from weeks 5 through 12 after surgery. During this phase, progressive motion can be used, although with caution for repetitive shoulder abduction and forward elevation above 90°. The use of Thera-Band strengthening of the rotator cuff should be performed in a short-arc pattern of motion, normally in the standing positions.^18,44 In addition, dumbbell isotonic concentric and eccentric exercises for recruitment of the humeral head decompression (rotator cuff) may begin using short-arc pain-free ROM. This program is known as positional recruitment for the purpose of low-level strengthening and progresses according to the tolerance of the patent and demonstration of arm control.⁴⁴ During phase II, progressive strengthening exercises for elevation in scaption are performed in allowing for what is known as shoulder hike. Prone positional exercise, such as prone extension to hip (Fig. 21-6) and short-arc prone scaption at 100°, and eccentric training of scaption has been very useful in treating shoulder hike.^30,38,44 Progressive resistive exercises (PREs) are a major part of the return to function phase. With some patients, based on good pain-free response to all rotator cuff exercise, advanced scapula stabilization and oscillatory training such as the Bodyblade may begin (see Fig. 21-5).

Phase III, the return to activity phase, can begin once the patient can demonstrate normal motion without symptoms and with improved strength. This phase lasts approximately from week 12 to beyond. Return to activity always includes the continuation of PREs. This aspect of rehabilitation is for the long haul.⁴⁴ Advanced CKC exercises such as single-arm wall push-ups on an uneven surface may be introduced. For the advanced patient, plyometric activity with plyo-toss exercise may be used (Fig. 21-7).

During the return to activity phase the core rotator cuff strengthening exercises of forward elevation, scaption, prone horizontal abduction with external rotation, and press-ups, as well as scapular stabilization exercises of seated rows, prone scaption at 120° (Fig. 21-8), scaption, and press-ups for scapular protraction (push-ups with a plus)^20,33,38,44 form the foundation of improving strength that eventually leads to full functional recovery.

The prefunctional phases and periods of passive or manual control motion are extensive for rehabilitation after surgical repair of massive rotator cuff tears. Generally, no active shoulder motion or active concentric or eccentric strengthening is allowed for 2 to 3 months after surgery.¹¹ Extensive soft-tissue healing must proceed unabated to foster the recovery of functional motion and strength.

Initially the patient is placed in abduction pillow or shoulder immobilization after surgery to allow the repaired tissues of the rotator cuff and deltoid to be placed in a shortened position. Early active muscle strengthening and active motion are avoided to allow for appropriate healing. Generally, manual control passive ROM with full motion restriction is allowed during the first several weeks of recovery. AAROM activities, can begin 2 months after surgery.¹¹

Submaximal isometrics and scapular stabilization exercises must be added cautiously 4 to 12 weeks after surgery.11,44 Specific rotator cuff strengthening exercises¹¹ performed isotonically with dumbbells, Thera-Band, and similar devices are reserved until 3 months after surgery to accommodate the healing constraints of the tendons and muscles of the rotator cuff and deltoid. Full functional recovery of motion and strength may take up to several months after the repair of massive rotator cuff tears.^11,44