About this trial
This study investigates sleep quality in patients with Rotator Cuff Syndrome (RCS) undergoing physical therapy treatment. Existing literature presents a gap regarding longitudinal studies evaluating the impact of physical therapy and different sleeping positions on sleep quality within this specific population. The central hypothesis is that physical therapy, combined with guidance on the best sleeping positions, reduces pain, improves shoulder function, and consequently promotes an improvement in sleep quality for RCS patients over time. The justification for this research lies in the need to better understand the relationship between physical therapy and sleep quality in RCS patients, aiming for the development of more effective and less invasive interventions. Previous studies have demonstrated that chronic pain, a common symptom of RCS, is intrinsically linked to sleep disturbances, which can lead to deleterious effects such as dopamine reduction, alterations in the descending pain modulation system, and central sensitization. Improvements in sleep quality have been observed after surgical procedures such as shoulder arthroscopy and arthroplasty, often associated with improved function and pain reduction. Thus, this study seeks to longitudinally evaluate whether physical therapy is capable of promoting a sustained improvement in sleep quality for patients with RCS
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Clinical and/or radiological diagnosis of Rotator Cuff Syndrome (RCS).
Presence of shoulder pain for at least 3 months (chronic pain).
Patients aged between 18 and 65 years.
Patients referred for conservative physical therapy treatment.
Disqualifiers
History of surgical procedures on the affected shoulder.
Presence of fractures or recent acute trauma in the shoulder or upper limb.
Associated neurological disorders, inflammatory systemic diseases (e.g., Rheumatoid Arthritis), or adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder).
Previous diagnosis of primary sleep disorders unrelated to pain (e.g., severe obstructive sleep apnea) already under clinical treatment.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Physical Therapy
- Physical Therapy + Sleep Guidance
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
Federal University of São Paulo
Lead sponsor
Unifesp Escola Paulista de Medicina
Collaborator