• Sports Traumatology

BACKGROUND: There is room for improvement in the current handling of patients with subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS). Only approximately half of patients benefit satisfactorily from a non-surgical approach, and the therapeutic effect of arthroscopic subacromial decompression has been questioned. Increased knowledge of potential heterogeneity, in patients with SAPS, could be an important first step towards a more individualized approach, potentially improving treatment outcomes.

AIM: To increase the knowledge of potential heterogeneity in patients with SAPS,
and investigate the role of impingement in SAPS.

METHODS: Study I was a scoping review investigating terminology and diagnostic criteria in studies investigating SAPS. Study II was a cross-sectional study investigating the prevalence of other shoulder diagnoses in patients presenting with signs and symptoms of SAPS. Study III was a cross-sectional study comparing ultrasonographic subacromial measurements and impingement between the affected and the unaffected shoulder in patients with unilateral SAPS.

RESULTS: Study I found that there is a considerable heterogeneity in terminology and diagnostic criteria in studies investigating SAPS. Study II found a high prevalence of other diagnoses in patients presenting with signs and symptoms of SAPS. Study III found no significant differences in thickness of the subacromial structures between affected and unaffected shoulders but found a higher prevalence of ultrasonographic impingement in affected shoulders.

CONCLUSION: The heterogeneity across studies makes it difficult to compare studies. Patients with SAPS are heterogeneous in terms of concomitant diagnoses. Ultrasonographic impingement is more frequent in affected shoulders compared to unaffected.

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