Table 5.

Characteristics of individual studies

Study	Country	Method	Participants	Intervention (scapular stabilization exercise)	Duration	Outcome measures	Result	Conclusion
Baskurt et al. (2011)	Turkey	RCT	40 Unilateral shoulder impingement subjects, (Neer stage I & II)	Scapular PNF. Scapular clock exercise. Standing weight shift, double arm balancing, scapular depression, wall push up, wall slide exercise. n=20	6 Weeks	Visual analogue scale, Shoulder ROM, Rotator cuff, Trapezius and Serratus anterior muscle strength, Joint position test, Western Ontario Rotator cuff index	Statistically significant improvement in the muscle strength. Joint position sense and scapular dyskinesia were identified in the intervention group (P<0.05).	Scapular stabilization exercises are superior to conventional program.
Bernardsson et al. (2011)	Sweden	Single group, pre post design	11 Subjects completed intervention	Shoulder shrug. Shoulder retraction Eccentric training of infraspinatus and supraspinatus. n=9	12 Weeks	Visual analogue scale, Constant score, Western Ontario Rotator cuff index	Pain intensity decreased among 8 subjects. Mean of constant score (P=0.008) and Western Ontario Rotator cuff index (P=0.021) increased significantly.	Eccentric training program targeting the rotator cuff and incorporating scapular control and correct movement pattern can be effective in reducing pain and improving function among subjects with subacromial impingement syndrome.
Sturyf et al. (2013)	Belgium	Double-blinded RCT	22 Subjects with shoulder impingement syndrome	Manual mobilization of scapula. Stretching of levator scapulae, rhomboids and pectoralis minor. Scapular motor control training. n=10	12 Weeks	Shoulder disability questionnaire, Verbal numerical rating scale, Visual analogue scale, Visual observation for tilting & winging, Forward head posture, Pectoralis minor muscle length, Scapular upward rotation, Scapular motor control, Isometric elevation strength	There is no statistical difference in control group. A large clinically important treatment effect was found in intervention group with significant reductions in pain (Cohen d 0.76, 1.04 and 0.92, respectively) and improvement in self-reported disability (Cohen d 0.93 and P=0.025).	Scapular oriented exercise is effective in reducing pain and disability for patients with shoulder impingement syndrome.
Moezy et al. (2014)	Iran	RCT	68 Patients with shoulder impingement syndrome	Scapular PNF. Strengthening exercise with theraband. Scapular clocks. Stretches of posterior capsule, pectorals. n=33	6 Week	Visual analogue scale, Abduction & external rotation, ROM, Forward head posture, Forward shoulder translation, Scapular protraction and rotation, Pectoralis minor length	No significant difference was detected in pain reduction between the groups (P=0.576). Protraction of the shoulder (P<0.0001), forward head posture (P<0.0001) and mid thoracic curvature (P<0.0001) revealed a significant improvement in the scapular exercise group.	Scapular stabilization based exercise intervention was successful in increasing shoulder range, decreasing forward head and improves shoulder postures and pectoralis minor flexibility.
Shankar et al. (2016)	Abu Dhabi	Single group, pre post design	7 Male patients with impingement of shoulder	Pectorals stretches. Scapular clocks. Wall wash Wall Row maneuver. Scapular stabilization: Black Burn, press up, push ups Rhythmic stabilization and theraband exercises.	2 Weeks	SPADI, Lateral scapular slide test	Significant improvement in reducing pain and disability of SPADI with P<0.00 and 0.001 respectively.	Scapular stabilization exercise protocol is found to be effective.
Turgut et al. (2017)	Turkey	RCT	30 Subacromial impingement syndrome subjects	Wall slides with squats, wall push ups with ipsilateral leg raise. Lawnmower with diagonal squat, resisted scapular retraction with contralateral single leg squat, robbery with squat. n=15	12 Weeks	3 dimensional scapular kinematics, SPADI (Turkish version)	There was statistical significant improvement in pain and disability of SPADI in both groups. Significant differences were observed in both the groups for external rotation, posterior tilt and upward rotation.	Specific scapular stabilization exercise reduces pain and disability among subjects with impingement.
Hotta et al. (2017)	Brazil	Non randomized controlled study	50 Shoulder impingement syndrome subjects	Neuromuscular exercises and scapular strengthening. (n=25)	8 Weeks	Numerical pain rating scale, SPADI (Brazilian version)	A significant difference in total score of SPADI (P<0.01), 3 dimensional scores for scapular upward rotation (P<0.01) and upward rotation (P<0.01) was found in intervention group.	Motor control and muscular strengthening of scapula improves function among subjects with shoulder impingement syndrome.

RCT, randomized controlled trials; PNF, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation; SPADI, shoulder pain and disability index.