First Author (Year)	Follow-up Period	Pain	Treatment groups (n = )	Intragroup difference	Statistically significant (*clinical significance)	Between group difference	Statistically significant (*clinical significance)
Itoi (1992)109	3.4 yr (1 – 9 yr)	Wolfgang criteria pain (0-4)	G0: All patients (62) G1: Satisfied (15) G2: Unsatisfied (8)	(Pre→post) Motion pain (percent cohort): G0: 82%→45% Night pain (percent cohort): G0: NP: 55%→23% Wolfgang pain (points): ** G0: 2.0→ 3.0 G1: 2.2→3.3 G2: 2.4→2.1	(Post) Wolfgang pain: G0: P < 0.001* G1: P < 0.01* G2: P > 0.5	NR	NA
Bokor (1993)105	7.6 yr (3.7 – 12 yr)	-ASES pain scale	G1: Non-surgical (53)	(Pre→post) ASES (n = ) None: 0→22 Slight: 2→17 Mild: 7→8 Moderate: 20→4 Severe: 24→2	NR	NA	NA
Hawkins (1995)108	3.8 yr	-Constant-murley pain score -‘Sleep loss due to NP’	G1: Non-surgical (19) G2: Not satisfied w/ non-surgical (14)	(Pre→post) Constant-murley (score): G1: 9.3→10.9 G2: 7.3→10.3 Sleep loss (percent cohort): G1: 42% G2: 79%	NR	(Post) Sleep loss (percent cohort): G1: 42% G2: 79%	(Post) p = 0.01128*
Wirth (1997)114	>/= 2 yr	ASES pain scale	G1: Exercise therapy (60)	NR	NR	NA	NA
Palmer (1998)101	2 yr	NR	Aquatic Therapy (1)	NR	NR	NR	NR
Yamada (2000)115	4 yr (12 mo – 19 yr)	-JOA pain score	G1: Non-surgical (14) G2: Surgery (26)	(Post) (Percent improvement); G1: 57.7% G2: 70.9%	(Post) G1: p=0.0012* G2: p<0.001*	NR	NR
Goldberg (2001)107	6 mo Intervals 2.5 yr	NR	G1: Non-surgical (46)	NR	NR	NR	NR
Shibata (2001)126	24 wk	UCLA pain	G1: 25 mg sodium Hyaluronate & 3 mL 1% lidocaine (38) G2: 2mg Dexamethasone & 3 mL 1% lidocaine (40)	(Pre→post) Pain score: G1: 2.37→ 5.31 G2: 2.5→5.14	NR	NR	NR
Vad (2002)120	3.1 yr (Range: 2-7 yr)	-Shoulder Rating Questionnaire	G1a: PT + meds (28) G1b: PT + meds + CS (12) G2: Failed G1a/b arthroscopy (32) G3: Primary surgery RCT repair (36)	(Pre→post) G1:20.8→30.7 G2: 20.7→39.5 G3: 16.3→40.5	(Post) G1: Pp<0.05* G2: p < 0.05* G3: p < 0.05*	(Post) G1b greater ↓pain vs G1a (values NR)	(Post) G1a vs G1b (p < 0.05)
Piccoli (2004)102	7 wk	-Pain VAS	Single case	(Pre→7 wk) 10/10 → 3/10	NA	NA	NA
Ainsworth (2006)104	Avg: 10.8 mo (Range: 2-36 mo)	-SF36 pain score	G1: Non-surgical (10) (Torbay rehab program)	(Post) (improvement) G1: 22 points	NR	NR	NR
Levy (2007)116	9 mo	-Constant-murley pain score	G1: Non-surgical (17)	(Pre→≥9 mo) Constant-murley (score (range)): G1: 6 (0-9) → 12 (7-15)	NR	NR	NR
Lunn (2007)119	50 mo	-Constant-murley pain score	G1: Nonoperative (14) G2: Open repair (5)	(Pre→post) Constant-murley (score): G1: 4.9→9.5 G2: 5.1→9.3	NR	NR	NR
Ainsworth (2009)127	12 mo	SF-36 pain	G1: PT + Exercise (30) G2: Control (Placebo) (no exercise) (30)	(3 mo→6 mo→12 mo) SF-36 pain (score change from baseline) G1: + 4.26→+3.65→+1.56 G2: (-)3.5→+4.58→+4.42	NR	(3 mo→6 mo→12 mo) SF-36 pain (score change from baseline) G1: + 4.26→+3.65→+1.56 G2: (-)3.5→+4.58→+4.42	(3 mo, 6 mo, 12 mo) SF-36 pain (score change from baseline) G1 vs G2: P > 0.05 (NS) -All time points
Baydar (2008)118	6 mo, 1 yr, 3 yr (Pt. report)	-ASES pain -SF-36 bodily pain	G1: Non-surgical (20)	(Pre→ 6 mo) ASES pain (score): G1: 20.15→ 40.0 SF-36 bodily pain (score) G1: 36.1 → 73.6	(6 mo) ASES: P < 0.01* SF-36: P < 0.001*	NA	NA
Moosmayer (2010/2014)47,48 ‡	6 mo, 1 yr, 2 yr, 5 yr	-ASES pain scale	G1: Surgical (52) G2: PT (51) †G3: G2→G1 (9; 18%) †G4: PT only (39)	(Pre→6 mo→12 mo→5 yr) ASES (cm): G1: 5.6→1.1→0.5→0.6 G2: 5.3→2.6→2.1 →1.6 G3: 6.3 G4: 5.0	NR	(Pre) G3: 6.3 G4: 5.0 (1 yr) G1: 0.5 cm G2: 2.1 cm (5 yr) G1: 1.6 cm G2: 0.6 cm	(Pre) G3 vs G4: p<0.05 (1 yr) G1 vs G2: p < 0.0005 (5 yr) G1 vs G2: p < 0.05
Tanaka (2010)113	G1: 2.4 yr G2: 2.2 yr	-Time 0: Night pain	G1: Non-surgical (subjects: 62; shoulders: 65) G2 Failed G1→surgery (subjects: 56; shoulders: 58)	(Post) (Percent of cohort): G1: 67.6% G2: 70.6%	NR	(Post) (Percent of cohort): G1: 67.6% G2: 70.6%	(Post) P = 0.719 (NS)
Gialanella (2011)128	6 mo	-Pain VAS	G1: PT & CS (x1) (20) G2: PT & CS (x2) (20) G3: PT (control) (20)	(Pre→1 mo→3 mo→ 6 mo) Rest pain (cm): G1: 1.8→0.5→0.6→0.8 G2: 1.9→1.0→1.1→1.5 G3: 0.6→0.9→0.6→0.7 Activity pain (cm): G1: 7.1→3.8→3.7→5.4 G2: 7.3→3.9→4.0→5.4 G3: 6.9→6.7→6.5→6.8 Night pain (cm): G1: 5.8→2.1→2.7→3.5 G2: 5.5→1.8→1.9→2.9 G3: 4.6→ 4.5→4.6→4.6	(1 & 3 mo) Rest pain (cm): G1: P < 0.05* Activity pain (cm): G1 & G2: p < 0.001* Night pain (cm): G1 & G2: p < 0.001* (6 mo) Activity pain (cm): G1: p < 0.01* G2: Pp<0.001* Night pain (cm): G1 & G2: P < 0.001*	(1 & 3 mo) Activity pain (cm): G1 & G2 lower than G3 Night pain (cm): G1 & G2 lower than G3	(1 & 3 mo) Activity pain (cm): G1 & G2 vs G3: p < 0.001* G1 vs G2 : NS Night pain (cm): G1 & G2 vs G3: p < 0.001* G1 vs G2 : NS
Merolla (2011)1	12 mo.	Pain VAS	G0: Conservative therapy (60) G1: ‘Successful’ (33) G2: G0→ surgery (27)	(Pre→3 mo→6 mo→12 mo) Pain (mm): G1: 8.5→3.3→4.1→4.8 G2: 8.5→6.9→7.8→7.9	NR	(Pre→3 mo→6 mo→12mo) Pain (mm): G1: 8.5→3.3→4.1→4.8 G2: 8.5→6.9→7.8→7.9	NA
Kijma (2012)110	12.9 yr	-JOAS pain scale	G1: Nonsurgical (43)	(Post) JOAS (points): 25.4 No pain (n=): 24 (56%) Needed meds (n=): 5 (12%)	NR	NR	NR
Krischak (2013)124	2 mo	Pain VAS	G1: Standard OT (22) G2: Home exercises (16)	(Pre→2 mo) VAS (points): G1: 5.2→3.5 G2: 5.0→3.8	NR	(2 mo) G1: 3.5 G2: 3.8	(2 mo) G1 vs G2: P = 0.678 (NS)
Kuhn (2013)40	1 yr	NR	G0: PT program‡ (422, 100%) G1: Cured (237, 62.2%) (no formal f/u scheduled) G2: Improved (continue PT) G3: No better (82, 29%) (offered surgery)	NR	NA	NR	NA
Benazzo (2014)99	29 mo	NR	Non-surgical: (1)	NR	NA	NA	NA
Boorman (2014)123	29 mo	NR	G0: 3 mo .supervised, non-operative§ G1: “Successful”(no surgery indicated) (70; 75%) G2: “failed” (underwent surgery) (23; 25%)	NR	NA	NA	NA
Güzelant (2014)117	66 mo (mean)	-Pain VAS	G1: “Conservative therapy” (33)	(Pre→post) Pain VAS (cm): 8.5→3.5	(Post) Pain VAS: P<0.05* P = 0.0378	NA	NA
Kukkonen (2014/2015)52,125	24 mo	-Constant-murley pain scale -Pain VAS	G1: PT (55) G2: Acromioplasty & PT (58) G3: RC repair, acromioplasty & PT (54)	(Pre→6 mo→12 mo→24 mo) Constant-Murley (score):** G1: 10.3→12.1→12.1 G2: 10.8→13.4→13.6 G3: 10.2→13.4→13.8 Pain VAS (cm): G1: 2.7→1.6→1.5→1.5 G2: 2.5→0.6→1.1 →1.0 G3: 2.6→0.9→1.0→0.6	NR	(12 mo; 24 mo) Constant-Murley (score):** G1: 12.1; 12.1 G2: 13.4; 13.6 G3: 13.4; 13.8 (Pre→24 mo) Pain VAS change (cm): G1: -1.3 G2: -1.8 G3: -2.0	(12 mo) Constant-Murley: G1 vs G2/G3: P<0.05 (p = 0.0321) (24 mo) Constant-murley: G1 vs G2/G3: P<0.05 (P = 0.01) (Pre→24 mo) Pain VAS change: G1 vs G2 vs G3: P = 0.45 (NS)
Collin (2015)106	24 mo	NR	G1: “Rehab program” (45) (nonoperative)	NR	NA	NA	NA
Lambers Heerspink (2015)49	12 mo	Pain VAS	G1: “Conservative Management” (31) G2: RC repair (25)	(Pre→12 mo) VAS (cm): G1: 6.3→3.2 G2: 6.2→2.2	NA	(12 mo) Change VAS (cm): G1: 2.9 G2: 4.0	(12 mo) VAS: G1 vs G2: P = 0.04
Baumer (2016)121	≥9 wk	-Pain VAS	G1: PT (25) G2: Healthy controls (25)	(Pre→≥9 wk) VAS (cm): G1: 3.8→1.7 G2: 6.2→NR	(≥9 mo) G1: P < 0.01*	(≥9 wk) VAS (cm): G1: 1.7; G2: 6.2	(>9 wk) VAS: G1 vs G2: P < 0.01*
Christensen (2016)122	≥5 mo	-Pain VAS -EQ-5D	G1: Non-operative(30) G2: Control (30)††	(Pre→≥5 mo) VAS w/ Flx movement (cm): G1: 5.0→1.0 VAS w/ Abd movement (cm): G1: 5.0→2.0 VAS w/ ER movement (cm): G1: 4.0→0.5 EQ-5D (median score): G1: 60.0→80.0	(≥5 mo) VAS Flx: P = 0.001* VAS Abd: P < 0.001* VAS ER: P = 0.015* EQ-5D: P < 0.001*	NR	NA
Miller (2016)111	12 wk	NR	G1: Exercise therapy	NR	NA	NR	NA
Mischke (2016)100	13 visits (time NR)	NPRS	Conservative therapy (1)	(Pre→visit 7→ visit 13) NPRS (0-10): 7→4→1	-Improved by MCID	NA	NA
Upadhyaya (2016)103	10 yr	-“Hawkin's test” -“Neer's test”	Non-operative treatment (1)	(Pre → 10 yr) Hawkin's test (pain): (+) Pain → (+) Pain Neer's test (pain): (+) Pain → (+) Pain	NR	NA	NA
Moosmayer (2017)112	8.8 yr	-Pain VAS	G1: Non-operative (49) G1a: Tear size < 9.9 mm (33) G1b: Tear size 10-19.9 mm (8) G1c: Tear Size ≥ 20 mm (8)	(≥ 8.8 yr) VAS (score): G1a: 1.0 G1b: 2.0 G1c: 5.5	NR	(≥ 8.8 yr) VAS (score): G1a & G1b: 1.0 G1c: 5.5	(≥ 8.8 yr) VAS (score): G1a & G1b vs G1c: P < 0.004*

AP, activity pain; ASES, American shoulder and elbow surgeon's evaluation form; Avg, average; Constant-murley, constant murley shoulder outcome score; CS, corticoid steroid; F/U, follow up; G, group; HEP, home exercise program; JOAS, Japanese orthopedic Association score; Mo, month; NA, not applicable; NP, night pain; NPRS, numerical pain rating scale; NR, not reported; NS, not statistically significant;; PROM, passive range of motion; PT, physical therapy; RP, resting pain; SPADI, shoulder pain and disability index; VAS, visual analog scale; Wk, week; Yr, year; *, clinical significance, indicates a statistical significant difference and a ≥20% difference; †, G3 and G4 are a subset of G2; ‡, all subjects began a physical therapy program and were reevaluated at 6 and 12 weeks, at those times patient were assigned to G1, G2, or G3 based on findings; §, all subjects underwent a 3 mo supervised program of nonoperative treatment & with an evaluated by orthopedic surgeon and assigned to G1 or G2; **, values estimated to nearest tenth based off graphical representation, as no specific numerical values reported with-in study; ††, subjects in G1 served as their own controls which composed G2.