ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Shoulder pain is considered to be the third largest cause of musculoskeletal functional alterations in individuals presenting pain during movement. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this synthesis of evidence was to identify the clinical effectiveness of conservative and surgical treatments reported in Cochrane systematic reviews among individuals diagnosed with rotator cuff disease. DESIGNAND SETTING: Review of systematic reviews, conducted in the Federal University of São Paulo (Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP). METHODS: This synthesis of evidence included systematic reviews that had been published in the Cochrane database. The inclusion criteria were that these systematic reviews should involve individuals aged ≥ 16 years with rotator cuff disease, comparing surgical procedures with or without associated nonsurgical procedures versus placebo, no treatment or other nonsurgical interventions. RESULTS: Thirty-one systematic reviews were included, involving comparisons between surgical procedures and conservative treatment; procedures either combined or not combined with drugs, versus other procedures; and procedures involving exercises, manual therapy and electrothermal or phototherapeutic resources. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that strengthening exercises, with or without associated manual therapy techniques and other resources, were the interventions with greatest power of treatment over the medium and long terms, for individuals with shoulder pain. These had greater therapeutic power than surgical procedures, electrotherapy or photobiomodulation. Protocol registration number in the PROSPERO database: ID - CRD42018096578.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: A estimulação elétrica (ES) é amplamente utilizada para fortalecimento muscular após lesões ligamentares ou meniscais do joelho. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a efetividade da ES na reabilitação de lesões de tecidos moles do joelho tratadas de forma cirúrgica ou conservadora. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Revisão sistemática no Centro Cochrane do Brasil. MÉTODOS: Realizamos uma busca no Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (2010, Issue 12), Medline (Medical Analysis and Retrieval System Online) via PubMed (1966 até dezembro 2010), Embase (Excerpta Medica Database, de 1980 até dezembro 2010), Lilacs (Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde, de 1982 até dezembro de 2010), and PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database, de 1929 até dezembro de 2010). Os estudos incluídos foram ensaios clínicos randomizados que utilizaram a ES com o objetivo de aumento de força muscular na reabilitação de pacientes com lesões de tecidos moles. Dois autores avaliaram os estudos para inclusão de forma independente e realizaram a extração de dados e avaliação da qualidade metodológica. RESULTADOS: Dezessete estudos incluídos utilizaram a ES após a reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior e dois estudos após meniscectomia. Houve melhora estatisticamente significante na força do quadríceps através da ES (diferença média, MD -32.7; 95% intervalo de confiança, IC -39.92 to -25.48; n = 56) e nos desfechos funcionais (MD -7; -12.78 to -1.22; n = 43), seis a oito semanas após cirurgia de reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior. CONCLUSÃO: Há evidências de que a ES combinada a exercícios de reabilitação convencional pode ser efetiva na melhora da força muscular e função dois meses após cirurgia

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Electrical stimulation (ES) is widely used to strengthen muscles following ligament and meniscal injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ES for rehabilitation after soft tissue injuries of the knee treated surgically or conservatively. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review at the Brazilian Cochrane Center. METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (2010, Issue 12), Medline (Medical Analysis and Retrieval System Online) via PubMed (1966 to December 2010), Embase (Excerpta Medica database, 1980 to December 2010), Lilacs (Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde, 1982 to December 2010), and PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database, 1929 to December 2010). The studies included were randomized controlled trials using ES to increase muscle strength for rehabilitation of patients with soft tissue injuries of the knee. Two authors independently evaluated studies for inclusion and performed data extraction and methodological quality assessment. RESULTS: Seventeen studies evaluating ES after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and two studies evaluating ES after meniscectomy were included. There was a statistically significant improvement in quadriceps strength through ES (mean difference, MD: -32.7; 95% confidence interval, CI: -39.92 to -25.48; n = 56) and in functional outcomes (MD -7; -12.78 to -1.22; n = 43) six to eight weeks after surgical reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. CONCLUSION: There is evidence that ES coupled with conventional rehabilitation exercises may be effective in improving muscle strength and function two months after surgery