Effects of acupuncture and placebo TENS in addition to exercise in treatment of rotator cuff tendinitis.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of acupuncture with placebo transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) when added to the exercise treatment of rotator cuff tendinitis with respect to pain, shoulder movements and function.


METHODS
Prospective alternate allocation controlled trial.


METHODS
Outpatient department.


METHODS
Thirty-three patients (12 women and 21 men) were included in the study. All had clinically diagnosed rotator cuff tendinitis.


METHODS
Both groups underwent a standardized training programme. Each patient received in addition either 10 treatments with acupuncture or placebo TENS, 1-2 times per week.


METHODS
The parameters investigated were intensity of pain (measured with visual analogue scale), active, passive as well as functional movements in the shoulder (hand in neck (HIN) and pour out of a pot (POP)). Patients were tested before treatment, after treatment and at a six-month follow-up. Medicine intake, ability to lie on the affected side and sleep disturbances were evaluated. A subjective assessment was made after the treatment and at follow-up.


RESULTS
Sixteen patients had acupuncture, 17 placebo TENS. Eight patients endured pain at rest in the placebo TENS group, and 10 in the acupuncture group. After treatment both groups improved, the improvement persisted at the six-month follow-up. Both groups increased range of movement. Except for the functional test HIN in the acupuncture group, there were no differences between the groups regarding other parameters investigated directly after treatment or at six-month follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no difference between the effect of additional acupuncture treatment and placebo TENS in the treatment of rotator cuff tendinitis.
Razavi
Mahnaz
M
Kvarters Akuten Matteus, Physiotherapy Unit, Surbrunnsgatan 66, SE-113 27 Stockholm, Sweden. mahnaz.razavi@kvam.nu
Jansen
Gunilla Brodda
GB
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D016896:Treatment Outcome