Participants’ baseline characteristics
| Characteristics | Cryotherapy group | Exercises group |
| (n=23) | (n=20) | |
| Age, years, X̅±SD | 43±13* | 33±7* |
| Gender, male (%) | 11 (48) | 13 (65) |
| Weight, kg, X̅±SD | 76±13 | 74±13 |
| Height, cm, X̅±SD | 170±6 | 175±9 |
| Days since the injury, X̅±SD | 25±7 | 27±9 |
| Dominance, right, % | 83 | 90 |
| Pain on dominant side, % | 52 | 65 |
| Origin of injury, % | ||
| Unknown | 4 | 0 |
| Accident/Fall | 0 | 0 |
| Repeated movement | 26 | 30 |
| Sport | 39 | 55 |
| Progressive | 31 | 15 |
| Work status, % | ||
| Full time | 78 | 65 |
| Part-time | 9 | 10 |
| Retired | 0 | 5 |
| Student | 13 | 20 |
| Physical work demands on the shoulder†, % | ||
| I—sedentary | 0 | 0 |
| II—light | 78 | 70 |
| III—medium | 9 | 15 |
| IV—high | 13 | 15 |
*Denotes a statistically significant difference in mean score between the two groups (p=0005).
†Average lifted load level to classify patients’ occupation and its related level of physical demand on the shoulder. Sedentary was defined as general lifting activities not exceeding 6.8 kg. Light was defined as lifting up 11.3–13.6 pounds. Moderate was defined as lifting up to 22.7–34.0pounds on a regular basis. High required lifting 34.0–45.4 pounds on a regular basis.
X̅, mean.