PAIN–FUNCTION RECOVERY PATTERN FOLLOWING FUNCTIONAL VERSUS TRADITIONAL EXERCISE WITH AERION ARTHRON CLASS IV LASER IN GRADE I AND II SUPRASPINATUS TEARS

Abstract

Background: Pain and loss of upper-limb function often occur together in people with partial supraspinatus tears.
Treatment may reduce pain without fully restoring activity, so it is useful to examine whether improvement in pain
is accompanied by meaningful functional recovery. Functional exercise may offer an advantage because it trains the
shoulder through coordinated movements that resemble daily tasks.
Aim: To examine the pattern of pain reduction and functional recovery following traditional and functional exercise
programmes combined with Aerion Arthron Class IV laser therapy in patients with Grade I and II supraspinatus
tears.
Methodology: Sixty adults aged 20–60 years were assigned equally to two treatment groups. Group A received
traditional shoulder exercises with Class IV laser therapy, while Group B received functional exercises with the
same laser intervention. Pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale and upper-limb disability was assessed
using QuickDASH before and after treatment. Within-group changes, between-group differences and the
relationship between pain improvement and functional gain were analysed.
Results: Both groups improved after treatment. Group A showed a mean VAS reduction of 2.257 ± 0.910 and a
mean QuickDASH improvement of 21.937 ± 8.410. Group B showed larger changes, with a VAS reduction of
4.410 ± 0.779 and a QuickDASH improvement of 41.438 ± 7.629. Between-group differences favoured Group B
for both pain and disability (p < 0.001). Pain reduction and functional improvement were positively related (r =
0.58), indicating that participants who experienced greater pain relief generally regained more upper-limb function.
Conclusion: Improvement in pain was accompanied by improvement in function in both groups, but the recovery
pattern was stronger in participants who performed functional exercises. The findings suggest that task-based and
kinetic-chain training may help convert pain relief into better use of the arm during everyday activity.