Does ultrasound therapy add to the effects of exercise and mobilization in frozen shoulder? A pilot randomized double-blind clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study intended to determine the extent to which Ultrasound could add to the effects of exercise and manual therapy in the rehabilitation treatment of primary adhesive capsulitis.

DESIGN: A pilot double blind randomized clinical trial was carried out on 50 patients suffering from primary adhesive capsulitis. Intervention included continuous 3 MHz, 1.5 w/cm2 Ultrasound, applied for the first group and sham Ultrasound for the second group. In addition specific stretching and strengthening exercises as well as glenohumeral joint mobilization were delivered to both groups. Pain (VAS), functional ability (using Oxford Shoulder Score) and shoulder range of motion were assessed at the baseline, after 10 sessions of treatment, and at 3 months follow-up. An intention to treat Mixed ANOVA analysis was performed to explore the interaction effects of time and group on outcome measures.

RESULTS: No significant interaction effect of time and group was seen on pain, function and Range of Motion (p > 0.05), meaning that the amount of improvement in all outcome measures were alike in the two groups.

CONCLUSION: Applying continuous Ultrasound along with a regimen of semi supervised exercise and mobilization in patients with primary adhesive capsulitis did not have any additional effect to the placebo Ultrasound, on outcome measures. Larger scale studies are needed to confirm the findings.