Effectiveness of a scapular exercise program on functional outcomes in patients with hand, wrist or elbow disorders: a comprehensive systematic review with meta-analysis

Review written by Dr Ian Gatt info

Key Points

  1. In the short-term, adding scapular exercises to conventional physiotherapy shows differences in elbow and wrist function, upper limb function, grip strength, and rest pain intensity in patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy and distal radius fracture.
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Hand, wrist/forearm disorders are the most common complaints seen in the emergency and orthopaedic departments (1,2). Patients often report long-term chronic pain and disability (3). Usually, physiotherapeutic interventions have focused on areas proximal to the original injury, and most studies have investigated the effect of these interventions and reported outcomes related only to the hand/forearm (4). However, four out of 10 patients with hand, wrist/forearm disorders report concurrent musculoskeletal complaints in the shoulder and/or neck (5).

Currently, there is lacking evidence-based protocols regarding the treatment of concurrent musculoskeletal complaints (4-6). Several clinical trials have analysed the clinical effects of including a scapular exercise program in the treatment of patients with hand, wrist/forearm disorders (6-10).

Therefore, the aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to determine the clinical effectiveness of scapular exercises added to a conventional physiotherapy program on functional outcomes in patients with hand, wrist/forearm injuries or pathologies.

Hand, wrist/forearm disorders are the most common complaints seen in the emergency and orthopaedic departments.
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In the short-term, adding scapular exercises to conventional physiotherapy showed benefit for patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy and distal radius fracture.

METHODS

  • Studies that analysed the effectiveness of scapular exercises added to a conventional physiotherapy program in patients with hand, wrist/forearm disorders were considered eligible for inclusion if the following criteria were fulfilled: Population: patients older than 18 years with clinical diagnosis
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