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Athlete Development & Sports Rehabilitation

Pain Rehabilitation

Session: Echo Intensity of the upper trapezius is higher in patients with chronic shoulder impingement syndrome

Echo Intensity of the Upper Trapezius Is Higher in Patients with Chronic Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Saturday, November 2, 2024
12:15 PM – 12:30 PM  
Location: Station 2: ROOM: POSTERLAND / Trinity Poster / Exhibit Hall REGION: Tower Lobby Level >>>

    Presenting Author(s)

  • CHUN-KAI TANG, MSc

    Ph.D. Candidate
    National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
    Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan (Republic of China)

    • Non-presenting Author(s)

  • YS

    Yi-Fen Shih

    Professor
    Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang Ming Chaio Tung University
    Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan (Republic of China)

Research Objectives: The upper trapezius (UT) muscle had an important role in shoulder movement control. This study aimed to explore UT muscle quality (fat infiltration) in patients with chronic shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) using echo intensity (EI) of the UT sonography. We hypothesized that the SIS shoulders had poorer UT muscle quality (higher EI) compared to the control shoulders.

Design: Cross-sectional study

Setting: General community

Participants: Twelve subjects (7 males, 1.7±0.09m, 65.57±12.25 kg) were recruited, with three having both non-specific neck pain and CSIS. The inclusion criteria included (1) 18-50 years old; (2) unilateral and non-traumatic shoulder pain; (3) pain duration longer than three months; (4) pain intensity > 2 in visual analogue scale, (5) having 3 of 5 positive pain provocation tests: Hawkins-Kennedy test, Jobe test, or Neer’s test Painful Arc, and Resistance Test against External Rotation.

Interventions: Not applicable

Main Outcome Measures: Three measurements of EI of the UT were taken using sonography (Konica Minolta, Sonimage MX1, Frequency: 11.0 MHz, Gain: 45 dB, Dynamic range: 85, Depth: 4 cm). The probe was placed vertically at the midway between C6 and acromion. Low EI values are indicative of superior muscle quality, whereas high EI values are associated with higher intramuscular adipocytes and fibrosis tissue, indicating muscle impairment.

Results: The paired t-test revealed no significant difference in EI comparing the painful (P) (93.78±5.01) and non-painful (NP) sides (92.29±6.59). When the three subjects with neck pain were excluded, the painful shoulder showed significantly higher EI (94.40±4.74) compared to the control shoulders (89.92±5.32) (P=0.006).

Conclusions: Patients with SIS only had poorer UT muscle quality and possibly impaired muscle function. Coexistence of neck pain might have an influence on UT quality, which needs to be considered when assessing UT muscle quality and function in patients with chronic shoulder impingement.

Author(s) Disclosures: No conflicts of interest.