OBJECTIVE: To determine whether dexketoprofen administered by phonophoresis or iontophoresis is more effective for the treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) than conventional ultrasound therapy. DESIGN: Randomised clinical trial. SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-nine participants with SIS without a complete tear of the rotator cuff were assigned at random to three intervention groups. INTERVENTION GROUPS: Participants received ultrasound (n = 32), phonophoresis with dexketoprofen (50mg/session) (n = 33) or iontophoresis with dexketoprofen (50mg/session) (n = 34). All participants completed 20 treatment sessions plus exercise therapy and cryotherapy. OUTCOME MEASURES: A visual analogue scale (VAS), the Constant-Murley Scale (CMS) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire were administered pre-treatment (baseline), post-treatment and 1 month post-treatment. RESULTS: At baseline, there were no differences between the groups. Post-treatment, VAS score improved by -1.2 points and CMS score improved by 8.9 points in the ultrasound group compared with the iontophoresis group (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.2 to -2.2 and 95% CI 17.0 to 0.7, respectively). CMS score improved by 7.1 points in the phonophoresis group compared with the iontophoresis group (95% CI 14.8 to -0.7). At 1 month post-treatment, no significant differences were detected between the groups. VAS, CMS and DASH scores of all groups improved post-treatment and at 1 month post-treatment. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound, iontophoresis with dexketoprofen and phonophoresis with dexketoprofen can improve pain, shoulder function, and physical functioning and symptoms in the upper limb in patients with SIS without a complete tear of the rotator cuff. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01748188.

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