Evaluating Shock Wave Therapy Added to Physiotherapy and Corticosteroid Injection for Frozen Shoulder Treatment

What this Trial Is About

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a common condition causing shoulder pain and limited movement that affects quality of life. It can occur without a known cause primary or be related to other medical issues like injury, inflammation, or surgery secondary. This condition often affects people aged 40 to 60 and is more common in women and individuals with diabetes. Frozen shoulder progresses through three overlapping phases painful freezing, frozen with stiffness, and thawing with gradual improvement, though recovery can be slow and incomplete. This trial studies whether adding extracorporeal shock wave therapy ESWT to standard treatments like corticosteroid injections and physical therapy PT benefits patients with frozen shoulder. Participants are randomly assigned to either an ESWT group receiving four weekly ESWT sessions plus two corticosteroid injections and an 8-week PT program, or a SHAM group receiving sham ESWT with the same injections and PT. The injections target specific shoulder areas using ultrasound guidance. Participants will be evaluated using pain scales, disability questionnaires, and range of motion measurements at the start and at 1, 2, 4, and 6 months after treatment begins. Researchers will assess changes in the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index SPADI as the primary outcome, along with pain levels and shoulder function. The study includes safety monitoring and aims to understand if ESWT provides added benefit over standard care during a follow-up period extending to six months.

Is Adding Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy to Physiotherapy and Corticosteroid Injection Beneficial for Frozen Shoulder