Abstract des Autors

Subacromial impingement syndrome is commonplace in athletes who strain the shoulder in specific athletic movement. Onset is influenced by a number of etiopathogenetic factors. Some authors sustain that repeated microtraumas cause hypoperfusion of insertional structures, causing phlognosis, degeneration and subsequently the rupture of soft parts, in particular the rotator cuff, over time. Classic endogenous therapy to encourage tissue vasodilatation may be indicated but overheating of superficial tissues prevents optimisation of the therapeutic outcome and the lack of control over deep temperature may be potentially harmful. A new device, Hypertherm PT-100, offers an innovative application of endogenous therapy, defined as hyperthermia, in that it allows both superficial and deep heat to be controlled. Hyperthermia consists in raising and maintaining for a given period a pre-established part of the body to a temperature which is higher than basal. This new method was used to treat 28 non-professional athletes with impingement syndrome, without complete rotator cuff rupture. Results were excellent in 28.57%, good in 36,71%, adequate in 14,29% and poor in 21.43%. The best results were obtained in cases with predominant irritative-phlogistic syndrome and in which the degeneration of inserting structures was not at a very advanced stage. Hyperthermia, executed using Hypertherm PT-100, represents a strongly innovative technique which may find a valuable application in sports medicine where the vasodilatating effect on tissues offers therapeutic prospects. Verf.-Referat