Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy Diagnosis, Nonsurgical Medical Care and Rehabilitation: Overview of a 2025 JOSPT Clinical Practice Guideline

Overview

Rotator cuff tendinopathies are a common cause of shoulder pain that leads to significant disability and limitations in daily activities.

This online course focuses on evidence-based clinical recommendations for the assessment, nonsurgical management, and rehabilitation of adults with rotator cuff tendinopathy. It will cover treatment strategies such as medical interventions, rehabilitation exercises, and return-to-play protocols for athletes, aiming to improve care and outcomes for affected individuals.

Learning Objectives

In this online course, we will:

        1. Describe the different elements to include during the assessment of adults presenting with shoulder pain suggestive of rotator cuff tendinopathy.

        2. Design an evidence-based program for the rehabilitation of adults with rotator cuff tendinopathy.

        3. Identify the various evidence-based nonsurgical medical options for the treatment of adults with rotator cuff tendinopathy.

        4. Explain the role of patient education in the management of adults with rotator cuff tendinopathy, including strategies for addressing pain beliefs, activity modification, and self-management.

        5. Discuss the key physical and psychological factors to consider when planning a safe and effective return-to-sport or activity strategy for individuals recovering from rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Speaker Bio: Dr. Marc-Olivier Dubé

Dr. Marc-Olivier Dubé is a physiotherapist and postdoctoral research fellow at the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre (LASEM) in Melbourne, Australia. He has received a fellowship award from the Quebec Health Research Fund (FRQ-S). His past research has focused on the management of persistent shoulder pain and how patient-specific psychological and contextual factors such as pain self-efficacy and expectations can influence outcome. At LASEM, he is now involved in projects aimed at reducing the burden of post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis. He has established a nationwide knee injury inception cohort study exploring patients’ healthcare pathway and long-term outcomes following a serious knee injury.

Marc-Olivier has prior clinical experience as a physiotherapist working in a primary care private practice setting with people experiencing various musculoskeletal disorders, as well as concussions. He has also been involved in teaching in the undergraduate Physiotherapy program of Université Laval (Canada). Marc-Olivier was awarded with the 2023 Quebec Provincial Adaptation-Rehabilitation Research Network (REPAR) Engagement Award to underline his contribution to the development of adaptation-rehabilitation research, as well as his involvement and commitment to the research network. The high quality of his doctoral thesis also earned him a place on the honor roll of Université Laval's Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. He has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles and presented in more than 30 conferences nationally and internationally.

Audience

This course is intended for physiotherapists, physiotherapy students, and healthcare professionals involved in the assessment and management of shoulder conditions, particularly rotator cuff tendinopathy. It is particularly suitable for senior physiotherapy students who are looking to deepen their clinical reasoning skills, new graduates transitioning into musculoskeletal or orthopedic practice, and practicing clinicians seeking to update their approach based on the latest evidence.