Subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain in adults and is caused by muscle imbalance around the shoulder joint, which is referred to as secondary SIS. Centralization of the glenohumeral joint (CGH), one of the intervention methods for this, targets strengthening the control ability of the rotator cuff. Dynamic humeral centering (DHC) targets the learning of selective contractile function of the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi as depressors of the humeral head. This study aims to determine the short-term effects of CGH and DHC on pain, disability, and grip strength in patients with secondary SIS. Forty-eight patients with secondary SIS participated in the study and were randomly allocated into three groups (CGH group (n = 16), DHC group (n = 16), and simple exercise group (n = 16)) and received the intervention for 50 min. The Constant-Murley score was used to assess shoulder pain and disability (primary outcome), and a hand-held dynamometer was used to assess grip strength (secondary outcome). Measurements were performed before the intervention and one day after the intervention. The results showed that the Constant-Murley score improved in the CGH and DHC groups. In addition, pain and disability (range of motion scores) improved in both the CGH and DHC groups. Improvements in disability (shoulder strength) and grip strength were seen only in the CGH group. Both CGH and DHC can be used as methods for short-term pain release and disability recovery in secondary SIS. In particular, CGH appears to be more effective in the short-term improvement in shoulder strength and grip strength.
Keywords: centralization of glenohumeral joint; dynamic humeral centering; subacromial impingement syndrome.