Comparative Study on the Effectiveness of Scapular Stabilization Exercises and Shoulder Strengthening Exercises on Hand Grip Strength and Shoulder Function among Subacromial Impingement Syndrome Patients

ABSTRACT
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of shoulder strengthening exercises and scapular
stabilisation exercises on shoulder function, range of motion, and hand grip strength in mechanical exposure
workers with subacromial impingement syndrome.
Study design: A comparative experimental study with two parallel groups at Vels Institute of Science,
Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Chennai.
Methods: Using convenient sampling, forty mechanical exposure workers who had shoulder pain for at least six
weeks were selected and divided into two groups of twenty. Over the course of six weeks, Group B received
shoulder strengthening exercises and Group A received scapular stabilisation exercises for 45 minutes three times
a week. At baseline and after six weeks, the following outcome measures were evaluated: shoulder function
(DASH score), range of motion (internal and external rotation) (goniometer), and hand grip strength (handheld
dynamometer). For both intra and inter group analysis, the paired samples t test and independent samples t test
were employed, respectively.
Results: All outcome indicators showed statistically significant improvements for both groups (p < 0.05). In
contrast to Group B, Group A had demonstrated noticeably higher gains in hand grip strength (mean gain: 5.10
vs. 1.75), internal rotation (5.00° vs. 2.75°), external rotation (5.25° vs. 2.00°), and DASH score reduction (4.00
vs. 1.70).