The effects of therapeutic exercise using PNF on the size of calcium deposits, pain self-awareness, and shoulder joint function in a calcific tendinitis patient: a case study.
Dong-Gun Oh, Kyung-Tae Yoo
PMID 28210065WHAT IT FOUND
One woman with calcific tendinitis had smaller calcium deposit area, lower pain score, and better shoulder movement after 20 PNF sessions over two weeks.
This is one case, not proof the exercise caused the change.
Key findings
01After 20 PNF sessions over two weeks, the reported calcium deposit area changed from 32.3 × 4.2 mm2 to 14.8 × 1.3 mm2.
02Pain on the 0 to 10 VAS changed from 8.2 to 0.8. SST changed from 12 to 2, where lower is better, and CMS changed from 18 to 74, where higher is better.
03Passive shoulder motion changed: flexion from 70.3° to 179.7°, extension from 13.7° to 80.7°, abduction from 53.7° to 180.0°, internal rotation from 16.0° to 89.7°, and external rotation from 0° to 85.3°.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
It included only one patient, so there was no comparison group and the result cannot show what would happen in others. The paper notes that calcific tendonitis can improve naturally as calcium deposits dissolve, so the changes cannot be separated from natural resolution. The post-test was done only 24 hours after the exercise period, so it does not show whether pain, function, or calcium deposit changes lasted. The authors note that the study focused only on supraspinatus calcific tendinitis and that the patient's eating and daily habits were difficult to control.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the reported changes as proof that PNF exercise works for calcific tendinitis. This was one patient with no comparison group, and the paper notes calcific tendonitis can improve naturally.