Can clinical assessment differentiate partial thickness rotator cuff tears from full thickness rotator cuff tears? A secondary analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: Greater abduction strength (i.e., Constant Power Score) was associated with partial thickness tears. Other clinical assessment items did not differentiate between partial and full tears. Our results add to the growing body of research showing most clinical findings are not associated with a diagnosis in rotator cuff disease. Implications for Rehabilitation Greater shoulder abduction strength (as measured with the Constant Power Score) was associated with partial thickness rotator cuff tears. Most findings within our clinical assessment framework did not distinguish between partial thickness and full thickness rotator cuff tears and thus, did not contribute to a differential pathoanatomical diagnosis. Since structural integrity of the rotator cuff and patient presentation show poor association, and rehabilitation intervention is often impairment-based, pathoanatomical diagnosis may not adequately direct non-surgical treatment. Including movement-based diagnoses or treatment classification systems in evaluation of rotator cuff disease may improve selection of appropriate conservative treatment. PMID: 30735064 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Disability and Rehabilitation - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Tags: Disabil Rehabil Source Type: research