Education-based Physical Therapy Approach for Adhesive Capsulitis

Physiotherapy in Adhesive Capsulitis Pathology: Effect of an Education Based Approach on Arthroscopic Evaluation Results, Joint Range of Motion, Psychosocial Factors, Shoulder Pain and Arm Function

This study aims, by means of a randomized control trial, to investigate which treatment method (corticoid injection + physiotherapy with a focus on manual therapy and home-exercises versus corticosteroid injection + physiotherapy with focus on education and supported home exercises) gives better results on clinically relevant outcomes (range of glenohumeral motion, psychological factors, pain, shoulder function, quality of life) and on parameters derived from arthroscopic glenohumeral investigation by means of MRI.

Furthermore, associations between (1) the results on the MRI investigation, (2) the range of glenohumeral motion, (3) shoulder function and pain, and (4) psychological factors will be assessed at different time-points (before and at 6-12-18 and 52 weeks after the first injection).

Inclusion Criteria:

• 50 % loss of passive GH external rotation motion, together with motion losses greater than 25% in at least two other GH movements, as compared to the unaffected side
• the pain accompanying the motion losses has to be present for at least one month. During that month, the pain and mobility deficits have to be stable or get worse

Exclusion Criteria:

• bilateral frozen shoulder
• systemic and/or neurologic disease or a self-reported pathologic condition of the cervical/thoracic region, elbow or wrist/hand