PTCase ReportInternational journal of sports physical therapy2026

Rehabilitation Incorporating a Stroke Efficiency Analysis in a Male Tennis Player with Scapular Dyskinesis: A Case Report.

Cristina Leek, Katie Sell

PMID 41488374

WHAT IT FOUND

A tennis coach with shoulder pain and scapular dyskinesis completed 20 physical therapy sessions over four months.

His pain dropped to 0/10, and he returned to serving and coaching without symptoms at six-month follow-up.

Key findings

01The subject's pain decreased from 8/10 during activity to 0/10 with all activities by the final session, and he reported no pain during serve actions at six-month follow-up.

02Functional scores improved significantly, with the Upper Extremity Functional Score rising by 11 points and the DASH disability score decreasing by 20.87 points, both exceeding minimal clinically important difference thresholds.

03The Stroke Efficiency Rating identified three biomechanical faults in the serve, leading to targeted coaching adjustments regarding racquet arc and shoulder positioning.

STILL TO COME

How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs

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What it does not show

This is a single case report, so results cannot be generalized to other patients. No post-rehabilitation video analysis was performed, so it is unclear if the identified biomechanical faults were actually corrected. The intervention combined multiple treatments (manual therapy, exercise, coaching adjustments), so the specific contribution of any single component cannot be isolated. The subject was a recreational player and coach, which may not reflect the demands on elite professional athletes.

Declared interests

No conflicts of interest or funding sources were explicitly declared in the provided text.

The easy way to misread this

Do not assume that the Stroke Efficiency Rating alone caused the improvement. The patient received a comprehensive physical therapy program including manual therapy, strengthening, and coaching adjustments, and the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.

Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →