Pengfei Zhu, Bokai Liao, Zhengchao Wang, Zhenxing Sun, Yang Wei, Yu Cai
Department of Cardiology, Wuhan Fourth Hospital, Puai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2752

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, Constant scores, range of motion, proprioception, and muscle strength were evaluated at pretreatment and at 3, 12 and 24 weeks’ follow-up. Re-treatment ratio was calculated at one-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 Visual analogue scale score, Constant score, range of motion, 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 one-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.

Subacromial bursitis is characterized by pain and stiffness of the shoulders. Corticosteroid injection is widely used in treating subacromial bursitis; however, with differing views on its long-term effects in preventing shoulder symptoms. Resistance (elastic) band training is commonly used to promote muscle activation during shoulder rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of progressive resistance training with elastic bands on subacromial bursitis following triamcinolone acetonide injection. Patients with subacromial bursitis were randomized to a triamcinolone acetonide group or a triamcinolone acetonide plus resistance band training group. The triamcinolone acetonide group received triamcinolone acetonide injection only. Meanwhile, the triamcinolone acetonide plus resistance band training group received triamcinolone acetonide injection and resistance band training. At 3 and 12 weeks, both the triamcinolone acetonide group and triamcinolone acetonide plus resistance band training group showed a significant improvement in pain relief, mobility, and muscle strength. A lower proportion of patients in the triamcinolone acetonide plus resistance band training group than in the triamcinolone acetonide group had received re-treatment at the one-year follow-up (12.1% vs 82.9%). Thus, training with resistance (elastic) bands has the advantages of extending the ben­efits of corticosteroid injection and maintaining long-term effects on shoulder function in subacromial bursitis.