Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40879175›Full record

Observational studyPhysical therapy2025

Relationship Between Tendon Tissue and Shoulder Disability Change During an 8-Week Exercise Intervention for Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: An Observational Study.

Oscar Vila-Dieguez, Matt D Heindel, Mark C Zipser, Kameron Mortazavi, Kornelia Kulig, Greg Bashford, Wendy Mack, Lori A Michener

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Physical therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Oscar Vila-DieguezDivision of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-5524-1448
Matt D HeindelDivision of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States.
Mark C ZipserDivision of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States.
Kameron MortazaviDivision of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States.
Kornelia KuligDivision of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States.
Greg BashfordDepartment of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States.
Wendy MackDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States.
Lori A MichenerDivision of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-9469-0732

Funding

Southern California Clinical and Translational Science InstituteUL1TR001855 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI Thomas A Buchanan, Michele D. Kipke · 2016 to 2026
$81.3M
Patient-Specific Factors of Recovery in Rotator Cuff TendinopathyR01AR083626 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI Lori Ann Michener · 2024 to 2026
$675k
International Society of Biomechanics, the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research, and the National Institutes of Health UL1TR001855 and R01AR083626NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR001855NIAMS NIH HHS R01 AR083626
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

importanceUnderstanding how tendon structure relates to disability improvement during exercise interventions in rotator cuff tendinopathy is essential for optimizing individualized treatment strategies.

objectiveThe objectives of this study were to characterize changes in supraspinatus tendon thickness and internal architecture over an 8-week resistive exercise intervention and evaluate the relationship between these changes and patient-reported shoulder disability.

designThis was a prospective longitudinal observational study.

settingThe settings were a university-based research laboratory and virtual supervision in participants' homes.

participantsForty-seven adults with unilateral rotator cuff tendinopathy were the study participants.

interventionThe intervention was an 8-week progressive resistive exercise program, supervised twice weekly by a physical therapist. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Primary outcomes were the Pennsylvania Shoulder Score, supraspinatus tendon thickness, and internal tendon architecture assessed using the peak spatial frequency radius via ultrasound. Measurements were taken at baseline and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess changes and associations.

resultsSignificant improvements from baseline were observed for the Pennsylvania Shoulder Score at 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Tendon thickness decreased significantly; changes in internal tendon architecture were not significant. A decrease in tendon thickness was associated with an improved Pennsylvania Shoulder Score at 2 weeks but not at 4 and 8 weeks.

conclusionsReductions in tendon thickness were associated with improved shoulder outcomes within the first 2 weeks of the intervention. Internal tendon architecture remained unchanged over the intervention. These findings suggest that tendon variables included in this study may be relevant only early in the intervention and that other factors should be investigated across different times of the intervention.

Indexed as

Exercise TherapyResistance TrainingRotator CuffRotator Cuff InjuriesTendinopathyAdultAgedDisability EvaluationFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesUltrasonographyMechanismsPatient-reported OutcomesResistive ExerciseTendon Morphology

Identifiers

PMID40879175
PMCPMC12494220

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.