The Effect of Mirror Therapy in Patients With Frozen Shoulder

Examination of the Effectiveness of Mirror Therapy in the Treatment of Patients With Frozen Shoulder: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

The aim of this study compares mirror therapy and visual feedback treatment with the control group in frozen shoulder patients.

Thirty-six individuals divided three groups as mirror therapy, visual feedback, and control groups were included in the study for 15 sessions of treatment. All individuals received basic treatment as ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, cold pack, stretching exercises, glenohumeral range of motion exercises, scapulothoracic exercises. The mirror group bilateral exercised with an affected arm behind the mirror; visual feedback group bilateral exercised by seeing both arms in the mirror; control group bilateral exercised without a mirror for 10 minutes after every session. Pain severity was evaluated with the "Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)", ROM and proprioception were measured with a universal goniometer, and functional status was evaluated with "shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI)" and "Modified Constant Score". Evaluations were made before, day after the treatment and 4 weeks after the treatment by the same researcher. Data analysis was performed with SPSS.23.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who were diagnosed with "Unilateral Frozen Shoulder" by the specialist;
• Normal radiological imaging;
• Aged between 18-75 years old;
• Symptoms persist for 2-12 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• If patients had following comorbidities: rotator cuff injury, cervical radiculopathy, romatological diseases, neurological diseases, fracture, tumour, congenital deformities, dislocation or sublocation, surgery in the shoulder, uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes mellitus;
• Pregnancy;
• Patients who had previously received physical therapy;
• Patients having problems in the perception of tests and exercises were excluded from this study