Effect of adding high-intensity strengthening exercises to conventional physiotherapy in athletes with shoulder impingement syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

Authors

  • Abdallah Gamiel Department of Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders and Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt / Department of Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders and Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Modern University for Technology and Information (MTI) University, Giza, Egypt.
  • Nadia Abdelazeem Fayaz Department of Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders and Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
  • Mohamed Amr Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
  • Nagwa Aboelwafa Department of Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders and Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
  • Mona Mohamed Ibrahim Department of Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders and Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.695421
Keywords: High-Intensity Strengthening Exercises, Physiotherapy, Shoulder Impingement Syndrome, Throwing, Overhead Athlete

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of adding high-intensity strengthening exercises (HISE) to the conventional physiotherapy program in athletes with shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). Thirty-two athletes with SIS were randomly and equally assigned into two groups; HISE group (n=16) and conventional physiotherapy group (n=16). The HISE group received both HISE and conventional physiotherapy programs, while the conventional physiotherapy group received only the conventional physiotherapy program. Both groups received a total of 18 sessions at a rate of 3 sessions/week for six weeks. Outcome measures included shoulder function and performance, muscle strength of the external and internal rotators and supraspinatus, acromio-humeral distance at 0° and 90° abduction, and supraspinatus tendon thickness. There was a significant improvement in shoulder performance (p=0.029), shoulder muscle strength of external rotators at 0 abduction (p<0.001) and at 90-90 abduction/external rotation (p<0.001), internal rotators at 0 abduction (p=0.001) and at 90-90 abduction/external rotation (p=0.001), and supraspinatus muscle (p<0.001), acromio-humeral distance at 0 (p=0.031) and 90 degrees of active abduction (p<0.001), and supraspinatus tendon thickness (p=0.009) in the HISE group compared to the conventional physiotherapy group post-treatment. However, no significant difference was observed in shoulder function (p=0.259).  It could be concluded that the addition of supervised progressive HISE to the conventional physiotherapy in SIS in athletes improves shoulder performance, muscle strength, acromio-humeral distance, and supraspinatus tendon thickness.

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Published
31-12-2025
How to Cite
Gamiel, A., Abdelazeem Fayaz, N., Amr, M., Aboelwafa, N., & Mohamed Ibrahim, M. (2025). Effect of adding high-intensity strengthening exercises to conventional physiotherapy in athletes with shoulder impingement syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. SPORT TK-EuroAmerican Journal of Sport Sciences, 14, 164. https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.695421
Issue
Vol. 14 (2025)
Section
Articles

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The works and papers that are published in this Journal are subject to the following terms:

1. The Publication Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) has the Publication Rights (Copyright) to the published papers and works, and favors and permits the reusing of the same under the license indicated in point 2.

© Servicio de Publicaciones, Universidad de Murcia, 2013

2. The papers and works are to be published in the digital edition of the Journal under the license Creative Commons Reconocimiento-No Comercial-Sin Obra Derivada 3.0 España (legal text). The copying, using, spreading, transmitting and publicly displaying of the papers, works or publication are permitted as long as: i) the authors and original sources (Journal, publisher and URL of the publication) are quoted; ii) it is not used for commercial benefit; iii) the existence and specifications of this users license are mentioned.

3. Conditions of Self-Archiving. It is permitted and encouraged that the authors spread electronically the pre-print (before printing) and/or post-print (the revised, evaluated and accepted) versions of their papers or works before their publication since this favors their circulation and early diffusion and therefore can help increase their citation and quotation, and also there reach through the academic community.