Overview

Graded motor imagery (GMI): used successfully in chronic, complex and painful clinical conditions accompanied by many pain and movement problems; It is a treatment, education and rehabilitation process that is based on recently obtained scientific data and current clinical studies, is individually adapted and approaches the individual holistically with a biopsychosocial model. Nowadays, it is frequently used in the treatment of some neurological diseases. In addition, these approaches are also used in the treatment of some orthopedic diseases including chronic pain. There are a limited number of studies in which the mentioned approaches are used together in stages, and the stages are mostly used alone. There is only one study in the literature on subacromial pain syndrome (SAS), which is the most common cause of shoulder pain and causes radiator cuff problems. Stage 2 SAS patients were included in the study and only one phase of GMI treatment was used in addition to the traditional physiotherapy program. Despite these positive results in favor of GMI, the fact that there is no study using the entire GMI treatment in SAS shows us that a randomized controlled and blinded study with high evidence value should be conducted on this subject. In addition, determining the effect of GMI on changes in central nervous system such as fear of pain, two-point discrimination, and left/right lateralization speed and accuracy task will help fill the literature gaps on this subject. In the light of this information, the question of planned master's thesis study is the effect of GMI treatment applied in addition to traditional physiotherapy in SAS on pain level, joint range of motion, functionality, pain-related fear, two-point discrimination and left/right lateralization speed and accuracy compared to only traditional physiotherapy. whether it is superior or not.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• 20-50 years of age with complaints of shoulder pain in the anterio-lateral region lasting more than 6 weeks, with a positive Neer impingement test and/or a positive Hawkins-Kennedy test
• Additionally, patients must have at least one of the symptoms listed. These symptoms are: painful arch on active shoulder elevation, pain with resisted shoulder external rotation in abduction at 90°, and a positive empty can test.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having had a steroid injection into the shoulder within the last 3 months
  • Previous surgery on the neck, thoracic spine or shoulder
  • Red flags (e.g. tumor, fracture, metabolic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, resting blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg, history of long-term steroid use)
  • History of shoulder dislocation, subluxation, fracture, adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder, or cervical or thoracic surgery
  • History of full-thickness rotator cuff tear
  • History of cervical disc herniation in the last 6 weeks
  • History of breast cancer on the involved side
  • Isolated acromioclavicular joint pathology (i.e., pain directly localized over the acromioclavicular joint).
  • Signs of cervical radiculopathy, radiculitis, or referred pain originating from the cervical spine
  • Receiving treatment for shoulder pain in the last 3 months
  • Being currently pregnant (Dunning, 2022)
  • Scoring ≤24 on the Standardized Mini Mental Test was determined.