The efficacy of mirror therapy in patients with adhesive capsulitis: A randomized, prospective, controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of mirror therapy (MT) in conjunction with a standard physical therapy program on shoulder range of motion (ROM), pain and quality of life in patients with adhesive capsulitis (AC).

METHOD: This prospective, randomized, controlled, single blind study included 30 patients with AC who were scheduled to undergo 10 sessions of standard physical therapy. The participants were divided into two identical groups, namely, The MT group and the control group. After each session, the MT group underwent active ROM exercises with the reflective side of the mirror while the control group underwent active ROM exercises with the non-reflective side of the mirror. Pre-treatment and post-treatment shoulder pain (VAS), shoulder function (UCLA shoulder scale) and quality of life (SF-36) were assessed, and active and passive ROM were quantified with a goniometer.

RESULTS: Both groups revealed a significant reduction of shoulder pain and significant improvement of shoulder function, active and passive ROM, and quality of life after the treatment. Post-treatment measurements showed that the MT group had a significantly lower amount of pain compared to the control group (p= 0.007). The UCLA scores were significantly higher in the MT group (p= 0.003). The MT group had significantly better post-treatment active flexion, active abduction, passive flexion, and passive abduction values (p= 0.001, p= 0.02, p= 0.002, and p= 0.02, respectively). The MT group had significant post-treatment improvement in physical function, physical role limitation and emotional role limitation, and pain parameters including SF-36 (p= 0.003, p= 0.01, p= 0.015, and p= 0.002, respectively).

CONCLUSION: MT in conjunction with physical therapy appears to be an effective treatment modality that reduces shoulder pain and improves shoulder ROM, shoulder function, and quality of life among patients with AC.