Profiling Patients With Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain: What Factors Influence Outcomes With Non-operative Care in a Secondary Care Specialist Shoulder Clinic?
This study looks at patients with rotator cuff shoulder pain who are being treated without surgery in a specialist shoulder clinic. Researchers want to understand which patients improve well with non-surgical treatment like pain relief and physiotherapy, and what factors help predict better outcomes.
Key Objective: The trial aims to identify which patients will benefit most from non-surgical treatment, potentially helping doctors provide better personalized care and manage treatment expectations.
Who to Consider: Patients with rotator cuff related shoulder pain who are considering or receiving non-surgical treatment in a specialist shoulder clinic should consider participating.
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
Shoulder pain from rotator cuff disorders is common, affecting function and quality of life. Many patients in orthopaedic clinics are diagnosed with these conditions. Most do not need surgery and are treated with pain relief and physiotherapy. However, long physiotherapy waitlists cause delays, and some patients do not achieve good outcomes. There is limited evidence to predict who will recover well with non-surgical care. A cohort study at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital is proposed to explore this. Patients assessed as suitable for non-surgical care by the shoulder physiotherapist will provide consent and complete questionnaires on pain, disability, quality of life, and personal factors like age and gender. They will continue with prescribed care and repeat the questionnaires after six months. This study will identify factors predicting successful outcomes, improving treatment programs to better meet patients' needs. It is funded by the Irish Research Council and led by Professors Karen McCreesh and Rose Galvin, UL, and Mr. Tristan Cassidy, Orthopaedic Consultant. Collaborators include Catriona Foley, shoulder specialist physiotherapist at Croom.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults * Clinically diagnosed Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain (disorder of the rotator cuff muscles and/or sub acromial space). * Being referred to primary care physiotherapy or other non-surgical management. Exclusion Criteria: * Under 18 * Non-rotator cuff related pathologies of the shoulder such as fractures, frozen shoulder, concomitant neck pain. * Person undergoing shoulder surgery. * Neither the patient nor carer can communicate in English sufficiently to complete consent or baseline assessment.