Characteristics of eligible studies
| Author (year) | Disease/conditions | Participants in baseline | Intervention | Instrument/scale | Anchor | Follow-up period |
| Simovitch et al 46 2018 | Cuff tear arthropathy, a combination of osteoarthritis and rotator cuff insufficiency | 1865 | Total shoulder arthroplasty | Constant score; SST; Pain VAS; | Global rating question | 40.2–49.7 months |
| Negahban et al 44 2015 | Shoulder disorders including impingement syndrome/tendonitis, frozen shoulder, shoulder instability | 200 | Physiotherapy | DASH (Persian version) | Global rating of shoulder function | 1 month |
| Holmgren et al 39 2014 | Subacromial impingement syndrome | 93 | Physiotherapy | Constant (Murley) shoulder assessment score | Patient’s global impression of change | 3 months |
| Rysstad et al 45 2017 | Subacromial pain syndrome | 50 | Physiotherapy | DASH (Norwegian version) | Patient’s perceived recovery | 3–4 months |
| van de Water et al 49 2014 | Isolated proximal humeral fracture | 20 | Active rehabilitation | Constant score; OSS; DASH | Patient perception of change | 1.5 months |
| Christiansen et al 35 2015 | 8–12 weeks after arthroscopic decompression surgery for subacromial impingement syndrome | 112 | Physiotherapy | OSS； Modified Constant score； | Patient Global Impression of Change | 3 months |
| Kukkonen et al 40 2013 | Rotator cuff tears (both partial and full thickness) | 781 | Arthroscopy | Constant score; | The two-stage question of the patient satisfaction | 3 months |
| Michener et al 42 2011 | Shoulder pain with or without surgery | 136 | Rehabilitation | PNRS | Pen shoulder score | 3–4 weeks |
| Christie et al 36 2011 | Rheumatic disease (inflammatory or degenerative disease) undergoing elective shoulder surgery | 100 | Arthroplasty or other surgery (not specified) | DASH; OSS; Pain VAS at activity; Pain VAS at rest; Constant score | Shoulder symptoms question ‘At 1-year follow-up, the patients were also asked to rate their shoulder symptoms at present compared with baseline’ | 12 months |
| Ekeberg et al 38 2010 | Rotator cuff disease | 121 | Local ultrasound-guided injections of triamcinolone and Xylocaine | OSS | Main complaint score (−9 (worst) to 9 (best)) | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Mintken et al 43 2009 | Shoulder pain | 101 | Physical therapy | PNRS; QuickDASH; | Global rating of change | 2–4 weeks |
| Tubach et al 48 2006 | Acute rotator cuff syndrome | 252 | NSAID therapy or placebo | PNRS; Neer score; | Response to NSAID treatment question | 7 days |
| Mahabier et al 41 2017 | Humeral shaft fracture | 140 | Operative and non-operative treatment of humeral shaft fracture | DASH; Constant (Murley) score; | Transition item: perception of change in the general condition of the affected upper limb | 1.5–12 months |
| Tashjian et al 47 2017 | Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy, advanced rotator cuff disease | 326 | Total shoulder arthroplasty (primary anatomic or reverse) | SST Pain VAS | Improvement after treatment | 3.5 years |
| Dritsaki et al 37 2017 | Rheumatoid arthritis with pain and dysfunction of the hands and/or wrists | 488 | Tailored exercise programme | EQ-5D-3L; EQ-5D-3L VAS; SF-12-physical; SF-12-mental | Participant self-rated improvement in their hands and wrist | 4–8 months |
| Tashjian et al 24 2009 | Rotator cuff tendonitis, rotator cuff tear (partial or full thickness) | 81 | Non-surgical management | Pain VAS | Four-item anchor instrument: response to treatment | 3.6 months |
| Schmitt and Di Fabio52 2004 | Musculoskeletal proximal upper extremity problem | 211 | Occupational or physical therapy | DASH | Global disability rating | 3 months |
| van Kampen et al 54 2013 | Shoulder problems | 128 | Operative or non-operative treatment | DASH; QuickDASH | Global rating scale for function | 6 months |
| Lundquist et al 50 2014 | Shoulder conditions (rotator cuff/impingement, adhesive capsulitis, humeroscapular instability, humeroscapular arthrosis, humeral fracture, other or unspecified should disorder) | 81 | NR | DASH (Danish version) | Global impression of change | 2.3 months |
| Tashjian et al 53 2010 | Rotator cuff tendonitis, rotator cuff tear (partial or full thickness) | 81 | Nonsurgical management | SST | 15-item function question; 4-item improvement question | 3.6 months |
| Marks et al 51 2014 | Trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis | 177 | Conservative treatment or surgery (resection/ suspension/interposition arthroplasty or arthrodesis) | SF-12-physical; SF-12-mental | Patient-perceived change in thumb condition | 12 months |
| Castricini et al 55 2014 | Irreparable rotator cuff tears | 27 | Shoulder arthroplasty surgery and rehabilitation | Constant and Murley score | The three-stage question of the patient satisfaction. | 27 months |
DASH, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand; EQ-5D-3L, Euro-Quality of life 5-dimensions 3-level index; NR, Not reported; NSAID, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; OSS, Oxford shoulder score; PNRS, Pain Numerical Rating Scale; SF-12, Short Form Health Survey 12; SST, Simple shoulder test; VAS, Visual analogue scale.