Effectiveness of Scapular Stabilization Exercise and Eccentric Rotator Cuff Exercise Along with Stretching Among Competitive Swimmers with Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Subacromial impingement syndrome is a common cause of shoulder pain in swimmers and is associated with repetitive overhead activity, rotator cuff loading, altered scapular mechanics, pain, restricted shoulder movement, and reduced function. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of scapular stabilization exercise with shoulder girdle stretching and eccentric rotator cuff exercise with shoulder girdle stretching in competitive swimmers with subacromial impingement syndrome. Methods: Sixty competitive swimmers aged 18–30 years with clinically diagnosed subacromial impingement syndrome were included and randomly allocated to two groups of 30 participants each. Group A received scapular stabilization exercises with stretching, whereas Group B received eccentric rotator cuff exercises with stretching. Both groups were treated for 50 minutes per session, five days per week, for six weeks. Outcomes were assessed before and after treatment using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and goniometric shoulder range of motion. Results: Both groups showed improvement after six weeks. In Group A, NPRS decreased from 7.90 to 2.07 and SPADI from 71.40 to 47.67. Shoulder flexion increased from 138.87° to 173.53°, abduction from 130.87° to 171.53°, internal rotation from 50.53° to 68.13°, and external rotation from 58.53° to 86.13°. In Group B, NPRS decreased from 8.00 to 3.23 and SPADI from 72.23 to 58.36. Shoulder flexion increased from 138.60° to 167.87°, abduction from 130.60° to 165.87°, internal rotation from 50.40° to 64.93°, and external rotation from 58.40° to 80.93°. Statistically significant pre–post improvements were reported in both groups, with greater mean improvement in Group A. Conclusion: Scapular stabilization exercise combined with shoulder girdle stretching produced greater improvement in pain, disability, and shoulder range of motion than eccentric rotator cuff exercise combined with stretching in competitive swimmers with subacromial impingement syndrome.