Elastic bands training after triamcinolone acetonide injection in subacromial bursitis: A randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of progressive resistance training using resistance (elastic) bands on subacromial bursitis following triamcinolone acetonide injection. DESIGN Randomized clinical trial. PATIENTS A total of 68 patients with subacromial bursitis were randomized to a triamcinolone acetonide group or a triamcinolone acetonide plus resistance band training group. METHODS Visual analogue scale (VAS), Constant scores, range of motion (ROM), proprioception, and muscle strength were evaluated at pretreatment and at 3, 12 and 24 weeks' follow-up. Re-treatment ratio was calculated at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS At 3 and 12 weeks, both the triamcinolone acetonide group and triamcinolone acetonide plus resistance band training group showed a significant improvement in VAS score, Constant score, ROM, proprioception and muscle strength. Although the scores in the triamcinolone acetonide group had not increased at 24 weeks compared with baseline, the scores in the triamcinolone acetonide plus resistance band training group showed continued improvement at 24 weeks. A lower proportion of patients in the triamcinolone acetonide plus resistance band training bands group than in the triamcinolone acetonide group had received re-treatment at 1-year follow-up (12.1% vs 82.9%). CONCLUSION Progressive resistance training with resistance (elastic) bands has the advantages of extending the benefits of corticosteroid injection and maintaining long-term effects on shoulder function in patients with subacromial bursitis.