Sigrid Tibaek1, Janne Gadsboell2. 1. Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark. Electronic address: Sigrid@tibaek.dk. 2. Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To date, there are no published outcomes-based treatment programs to guide clinicians when managing patients with scapula alata. The purposes of this study were to describe a physical therapy program in patients with scapula alata and to evaluate its effect using a shoulder-specific quality-of-life measurement. METHODS: In this case series and retrospective study, 22 patients (11 female patients) with a median age of 34 years (interquartile range, 28-44 years), diagnosed with scapula alata caused by injury to the long thoracic nerve, were successively referred as outpatients to a physical therapy program at a university hospital. The program included (1) physical examination, (2) thoracic brace treatment, and (3) muscular rehabilitation. The treatment frequency and duration were determined individually. The effect was evaluated by a shoulder-specific quality-of-life questionnaire, the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) Index. The WORC Index is grouped into 5 domains: physical symptoms, sport/leisure time, work, lifestyle, and emotional health. RESULTS: The results showed a highly significant improvement (P < .001) from pretest to post-test as measured by all 5 domains in the WORC Index. CONCLUSIONS: This study described in detail a physical therapy program; the program showed significant benefit. Further research is needed before recommending the program as a potential treatment option.
BACKGROUND: To date, there are no published outcomes-based treatment programs to guide clinicians when managing patients with scapula alata. The purposes of this study were to describe a physical therapy program in patients with scapula alata and to evaluate its effect using a shoulder-specific quality-of-life measurement. METHODS: In this case series and retrospective study, 22 patients (11 female patients) with a median age of 34 years (interquartile range, 28-44 years), diagnosed with scapula alata caused by injury to the long thoracic nerve, were successively referred as outpatients to a physical therapy program at a university hospital. The program included (1) physical examination, (2) thoracic brace treatment, and (3) muscular rehabilitation. The treatment frequency and duration were determined individually. The effect was evaluated by a shoulder-specific quality-of-life questionnaire, the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) Index. The WORC Index is grouped into 5 domains: physical symptoms, sport/leisure time, work, lifestyle, and emotional health. RESULTS: The results showed a highly significant improvement (P < .001) from pretest to post-test as measured by all 5 domains in the WORC Index. CONCLUSIONS: This study described in detail a physical therapy program; the program showed significant benefit. Further research is needed before recommending the program as a potential treatment option.
Authors: Qiukui Hao; Tahira Devji; Dena Zeraatkar; Yuting Wang; Anila Qasim; Reed A C Siemieniuk; Per Olav Vandvik; Tuomas Lähdeoja; Alonso Carrasco-Labra; Thomas Agoritsas; Gordon Guyatt Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-02-20 Impact factor: 2.692