Comparison of the effectiveness of high-intensity laser and ultrasound therapies in adhesive capsulitis: A randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND

Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is a common musculoskeletal disease characterized with shoulder pain, limitation of range of motion (ROM) and disability. Although physical therapy is used in the treatment of AC, studies on its effectiveness are continuing.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of ultrasound (US) and high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) in the treatment of AC.

METHODS

Sixty patients were randomized into two groups. Group I received US (15 sessions) and Group II received HILT (9 sessions) for 3 weeks. In addition, all patients received physical therapy program (hot pack, TENS and exercises). Assessments were made using VAS-pain, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), range of motion (ROM) at baseline and in post-treatment 3rd, 8th and 24th weeks.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of all pre-treatment values. In intragroup assessment, statistically significant difference was identified in all the values of Groups 1 and 2 in all assessment periods compared with the pre-treatment values (p< 0.05). There was no significant difference between groups in all assessment periods.

CONCLUSION

According to results, US therapy and HILT were effective on the improvement of pain, ROM and functional conditions of patients in the treatment of AC.

The effect of obesity on pain and disability in chronic shoulder pain patients

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between chronic shoulder pain and the increase in BMI.

METHODS

A prospective, cross-sectional study design was adopted for the study. Two hundred and eighty-five patients with chronic shoulder pain were evaluated for eligibility. A total of 94 patients were excluded from the study. The 191 remaining volunteers filled out a questionnaire (Pain (VAS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)) and weight, height, C-reactive protein (CRP) results and 1-hour-rate of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured. The participants were dived into the normal weight, overweight or obese group, considering the obesity classification defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).

RESULTS

A statistically significant correlation was found between the increase in BMI and pain (VAS), SPADI (pain, activity and total) and ESR. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the normal weight and overweight groups in all parameters, there was a statistically significant difference between the obese group and other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Shoulder pain may associated with obesity and we recommend the addition of weight control to the treatment of patients with shoulder pain.

Balneotherapy in the Treatment of Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

CONTEXT

To date, the number of studies investigating the effects of balneotherapy (BT) on chronic shoulder pain is small.

OBJECTIVE

This study intended to investigate the effects of BT on pain, disability, and quality of life for patients with chronic shoulder pain.

DESIGN

The research team designed a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blinded study.

SETTING

The study took place in the Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology at the Bolu İzzet Baysal Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital (Bolu, Turkey).

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were 60 patients with shoulder pain who were admitted to the outpatient clinic at the hospital between April 2016 and September 2016.

INTERVENTION

Participants were divided randomly into 2 groups: a control group receiving physical therapy (PT) only, the PT group, and an intervention group receiving PT plus BT, the BT group. All participants received 3 wk of treatment.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The study measured pain, disability, and quality of life using a visual analogue scale (VAS), the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) at baseline, immediately postintervention, and at 1 mo postintervention.

RESULTS

Statistically significant improvements were found on the VAS, SPADI, and NHP at both postintervention timepoints for both groups compared with baseline (P < .05). When the difference scores were compared between the groups, the BT group showed significantly greater improvements at both postintervention timepoints for the VAS and SPADI compared with the PT group (P < .05). For the NHP, the BT group showed significantly greater improvements compared with the PT group immediately postintervention for the pain and energy level subscales and for the total score (P < .05). At 1 mo postintervention, the BT group again showed significantly greater improvements on the NHP compared the PT group for the pain, physical activity, energy level, and sleep subscales and for the total score (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

The results of the study suggest that BT can have positive effects on pain and disability. BT may be an alternative for patients with chronic shoulder pain.

The effects of inpatient versus outpatient spa therapy on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in elderly patients with generalized osteoarthritis: a pilot study

This study aimed to investigate the effect of inpatient vs outpatient spa therapy on pain, quality of life, and anxiety in elderly patients with generalized osteoarthritis. A total of 150 patients were randomized into three groups. Group I was given medical treatment, group II was treated as outpatients, and group III was treated as inpatient spa therapy. Assessments were made using the Pain (VAS), EQ-5D-3L Scale, and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) at the beginning of treatment (W0), at the end of treatment (W2), and at the fourth week after treatment (W6). The comparison of outpatient spa group and etodolac treatment group showed that outpatient spa group was superior to etodolac treatment group in all evaluated parameters at W2 vs W0 and W6 vs W0. The comparison of inpatient spa group and etodolac treatment group showed that inpatient spa group was superior to etodolac treatment group in all evaluated parameters at W2 vs W0 and W6 vs W0. The comparison of inpatient spa group and outpatient spa group showed that inpatient spa group was superior to outpatient spa group in all evaluated parameters except STAI-TXII at W2 vs W0 and in all evaluated parameters W6 vs W0. Spa therapy, either as an outpatient or inpatient basis, may have a positive effect on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in geriatric patients with generalized osteoarthritis. The inpatient spa therapy may be more beneficial than outpatient spa therapy. When the side effects of drug treatments are emphasized, spa therapy may be considered as an interesting option for elderly with osteoarthritis.