EFFECTS OF BREATHING EXERCISES ON PAIN AND FUNCTIONALITY IN ROTATOR CUFF TEARS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Objective: Rotator cuff tears (RCT) were common shoulder injuries that caused pain, strength loss, and functional impairment. This study assessed the effectiveness of adding breathing exercises to conventional physiotherapy to alleviate pain and improve functionality in individuals with RCT. Method: In this single-blind, randomized controlled trial, 30 participants aged 30–55 with diagnosed RCT were allocated into two groups: the Conventional Group (CG), receiving standard physiotherapy, and the Breathing Exercise Group (BEG), receiving standard physiotherapy plus breathing exercises for six weeks. Outcome measures included pain intensity assessed by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS), range of motion (ROM) measured with a goniometer, and shoulder functionality evaluated using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Results: Baseline demographic and clinical parameters did not differ significantly between groups (p>0.05). Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in pain, ROM, and DASH scores post-treatment (p