OBJECTIVE: Systematic review investigated efficacy of conservative therapy on pain and function in people with tendinopathy-related shoulder pain. METHODS: Searches were conducted on six databases. All randomized controlled trials investigating efficacy of any conservative therapy on pain and function in people with tendinopathy-related shoulder pain were included. Estimates for each specific conservative therapy were presented as weighted mean differences (WMDs) or mean differences (MDs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE. RESULTS: Five randomized controlled trials were included. Extracorporeal shock-wave therapy (ESWT) was effective on pain at short-term (ie, <= 3 months) when compared with control (WMD -1.7 out of 101 points, -3.1 to -0.3; n = 158). Individual trials also suggested effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (-13.7 to -2.3; n = 365) and extracorporeal radial pressure pulse therapy (rESWT) (-40.0 to -27.0; n = 79). Laser therapy and ESWT were not effective on pain and function at short-term, respectively. No trials investigated medium- or long-term effects, and quality of the evidence ranged from low to very low quality. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative therapies currently available for the rotator cuff management and biceps tendinopathy are not supported by low to very-low quality evidence.

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