This single-center, prospective, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial investigated whether adding proximal motor control exercises (PMCE) to conventional physiotherapy treatment (CPT) improved shoulder function and scapular muscle activation in women with post-mastectomy shoulder dysfunction.
Eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive either PMCE plus CPT or CPT alone. Both groups attended supervised physiotherapy sessions three times weekly for six weeks. PMCE focused on improving scapular alignment, neuromuscular coordination, and activation of scapular stabilizing muscles, whereas CPT included glenohumeral joint mobilization, posterior capsule stretching, and Codman pendulum exercises.
Outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately after treatment, and at 12-week follow-up. The primary outcome was scapular and shoulder muscle activation assessed using surface electromyography (SEMG). The secondary outcome was shoulder pain and disability assessed using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI).
The study aimed to determine whether PMCE combined with CPT provided greater improvements in neuromuscular and clinical outcomes than CPT alone.
