TY - JOUR

T1 - Terminology and diagnostic criteria used in studies investigating patients with subacromial pain syndrome from 1972 to 2019

T2 - a scoping review

AU - Witten, Adam

AU - Mikkelsen, Karen

AU - Wagenblast Mayntzhusen, Thomas

AU - Clausen, Mikkel Bek

AU - Thorborg, Kristian

AU - Hölmich, Per

AU - Barfod, Kristoffer Weisskirchner

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Introduction There is no recognised terminology, nor diagnostic criteria, for patients with subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS). This is likely to cause heterogeneity across patient populations. This could be a driver of misconceptions and misinterpretations of scientific results. We aimed to map the literature regarding terminology and diagnostic criteria used in studies investigating SAPS. Materials and methods Electronic databases were searched from inception to June 2020. Original peer-reviewed studies investigating SAPS (also known as subacromial impingement or rotator cuff tendinopathy/impingement/syndrome) were eligible for inclusion. Studies containing secondary analyses, reviews, pilot studies and studies with less than 10 participants were excluded. Results 11 056 records were identified. 902 were retrieved for full-text screening. 535 were included. 27 unique terms were identified. Mechanistic terms containing 'impingement' are used less than before, while SAPS is used increasingly. For diagnoses, combinations of Hawkin's, Neer's, Jobe's, painful arc, injection test and isometric shoulder strength tests were the most often used, though this varied considerably across studies. 146 different test combinations were identified. 9% of the studies included patients with full-thickness supraspinatus tears and 46% did not. Conclusion The terminology varied considerably across studies and time. The diagnostic criteria were often based on a cluster of physical examination tests. Imaging was primarily used to exclude other pathologies but was not used consistently. Patients with full-thickness supraspinatus tears were most often excluded. In summary, studies investigating SAPS are heterogeneous to an extent that makes it difficult, and often impossible, to compare studies.

AB - Introduction There is no recognised terminology, nor diagnostic criteria, for patients with subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS). This is likely to cause heterogeneity across patient populations. This could be a driver of misconceptions and misinterpretations of scientific results. We aimed to map the literature regarding terminology and diagnostic criteria used in studies investigating SAPS. Materials and methods Electronic databases were searched from inception to June 2020. Original peer-reviewed studies investigating SAPS (also known as subacromial impingement or rotator cuff tendinopathy/impingement/syndrome) were eligible for inclusion. Studies containing secondary analyses, reviews, pilot studies and studies with less than 10 participants were excluded. Results 11 056 records were identified. 902 were retrieved for full-text screening. 535 were included. 27 unique terms were identified. Mechanistic terms containing 'impingement' are used less than before, while SAPS is used increasingly. For diagnoses, combinations of Hawkin's, Neer's, Jobe's, painful arc, injection test and isometric shoulder strength tests were the most often used, though this varied considerably across studies. 146 different test combinations were identified. 9% of the studies included patients with full-thickness supraspinatus tears and 46% did not. Conclusion The terminology varied considerably across studies and time. The diagnostic criteria were often based on a cluster of physical examination tests. Imaging was primarily used to exclude other pathologies but was not used consistently. Patients with full-thickness supraspinatus tears were most often excluded. In summary, studies investigating SAPS are heterogeneous to an extent that makes it difficult, and often impossible, to compare studies.

KW - Arthroscopy

KW - Rotator cuff

KW - Shoulder

KW - Sports medicine

KW - Tendinopathy

U2 - 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106340

DO - 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106340

M3 - Review

C2 - 36813537

AN - SCOPUS:85152149600

VL - 57

SP - 864

EP - 871

JO - British Journal of Sports Medicine

JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine

SN - 0306-3674

IS - 13

ER -