Digital Physiotherapy Treatment for Patients With Subacromial Pain Compared to Usual Physiotherapy in Primary Care

"The diSAID is developed by the research group and is a modified version of a previously tested exercise program for patients with subacromial pain. The diSAID is distributed in three stages with; Information about subacromial pain, effects of exercise, pain management and ergonomics in everyday living and at work. The training includes exercises for the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers as well as posterior shoulder stretch. The exercises are performed 1 time/day during twelve weeks with a progression of dose, load and complexity continuously. Pain while performing the exercise program is accepted up until NRS 5 out of 10.~During ongoing treatment, there is the opportunity for counselling, individualization of exercises, adjustment of dose and load based on stated instructions from the treating physiotherapist.~Adherence, levels of pain and function is reported continuously by the patient via the digital platform."

Patients in the active control group are offered the usual treatment practice that is currently offered by physiotherapists in primary care. No predetermined directives for the active control group are defined prior to the study and can contain; home exercise programs, manual therapy and other techniques. The treating physiotherapists in this group are not involved in the digital treatment. The choice of interventions, amounts of visits and adherence is checked retrospectively via patient data and medical records.