Physical Therapy Management of Nontraumatic Shoulder Problems Lacks High-Quality Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Systematic Review With Quality Assessment Using the AGREE II Checklist

Abstract

Objectives: To appraise the quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for physical therapy management of nontraumatic shoulder pain disorders.

Design: Systematic review of CPGs.

Literature search: Two reviewers independently conducted a search of 7 databases and 7 gray literature sources.

Study selection criteria: We included systematically developed CPGs for physical therapy management of nontraumatic musculoskeletal conditions of the shoulder in adults that were available in full text in the English language. We excluded CPGs for physical therapy management of surgically treated shoulder pain disorders.

Data synthesis: Three reviewers independently rated the quality of included CPGs using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument. Data were compiled into tables that displayed AGREE II domain scores for each CPG and mean item scores across the CPGs.

Results: We included 9 CPGs. Five CPGs focused on rotator cuff disorders, 2 focused on frozen shoulder, and 2 covered a range of soft tissue shoulder diagnoses. Three CPGs were judged as high quality (all were 5 or more years old) and 6 were judged as low quality. The quality domains in which CPGs were rated highest were "scope and purpose" (all CPGs scored greater than 50% and 4 scored greater than 80%) and "clarity of presentation" (all CPGs scored greater than 50% and 7 scored greater than 80%). The domains in which CPGs were rated most poorly were "applicability" (6 CPGs scored 40% or less) and "editorial independence" (4 CPGs scored less than 40%).

Conclusion: There were no high-quality, contemporary CPGs to guide physical therapy management of nontraumatic shoulder pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2021;51(2):63-71. Epub 25 Dec 2020. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.9397.

Keywords: clinical guideline; physical therapy; shoulder.