Shoulder pain from rotator cuff disorders is common, affecting function and quality of life. Many patients in orthopaedic clinics are diagnosed with these conditions. Most do not need surgery and are treated with pain relief and physiotherapy. However, long physiotherapy waitlists cause delays, and some patients do not achieve good outcomes. There is limited evidence to predict who will recover well with non-surgical care.
A cohort study at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital is proposed to explore this. Patients assessed as suitable for non-surgical care by the shoulder physiotherapist will provide consent and complete questionnaires on pain, disability, quality of life, and personal factors like age and gender. They will continue with prescribed care and repeat the questionnaires after six months.
This study will identify factors predicting successful outcomes, improving treatment programs to better meet patients' needs. It is funded by the Irish Research Council and led by Professors Karen McCreesh and Rose Galvin, UL, and Mr. Tristan Cassidy, Orthopaedic Consultant. Collaborators include Catriona Foley, shoulder specialist physiotherapist at Croom.
Adults
Clinically diagnosed Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain (disorder of the rotator cuff muscles and/or sub acromial space).
Being referred to primary care physiotherapy or other non-surgical management.
Under 18
Non-rotator cuff related pathologies of the shoulder such as fractures, frozen shoulder, concomitant neck pain.
Person undergoing shoulder surgery.
Neither the patient nor carer can communicate in English sufficiently to complete consent or baseline assessment.
All adults who present to the Specialist Shoulder clinic at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital between January 2026 and January 2027 (inclusive) will be considered eligible for inclusion to the study provided that they meet the inclusion criteria outlined above.
Cohort
Prospective
Not listed
Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
Pain level on a scale from 0-10. 0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain. higher number = worse
Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)
Shoulder Pain and Disability Index measures a patient's self-perceived pain and functional limitations due to shoulder problems. 0 = no pain/disability 100 = maximum pain/disability Higher scores = worse outcome
Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC)
Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index measures the impact of rotator cuff conditions on a person's quality of life. Scored from 0-2100. 0 = best (no impairment) 2100 = worst (maximum impairment)
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