Exercise Into Pain in Chronic Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain: a Prospective Single-Group Feasibility Study

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-65 years * Shoulder pain for at least 3 months * Pain in the antero-lateral shoulder region * At least 3 out of 5 of the following tests positive: Neer test, Hawkins-Kennedy, Jobe, painful arc between 60° and 120°, external resistance test * Resting pain should be at 2/10 maximum on verbal NRS scale * All types of occupations were included: students, workers (including overhead workers or heavy duty workers), people on sick leave and retired people Exclusion Criteria: * Bilateral shoulder pain * Corticosteroid injections 6 weeks prior to the study * Pregnancy, inability to understand spoken or written Dutch * Clinical signs of full-thickness rotator cuff tears (positive external and internal rotation lag tests and drop arm test) * Evidence of adhesive capsulitis (50% or more than 30° loss of passive external rotation) * Previous cervical, thoracic or shoulder surgery; recent fractures or dislocations on the painful shoulder * Symptoms of cervical radiculopathy as primary complaint (tingling, radiating pain in the arm associated with neck complaints) * Primary diagnosis of acromioclavicular pathology, shoulder instability * A radiologically confirmed fracture or presence of calcification larger than 5 mm * Presence of competing pathologies (inflammatory arthritis, neurological disorders, fibromyalgia, malignancy) * More than 4h of training in sport overhead shoulder activities per week