title: The efficacy of supervised physiotherapy for the treatment of adhesive capsulitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of supervised physiotherapy supplemented with non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for treating adhesive capsulitis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Even though adhesive capsulitis is a common disorder, literature on its treatment is still limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients with adhesive capsulitis treated between 2004 and 2007 were reviewed retrospectively and 29 patients were enrolled in the study. All patients received a supervised physiotherapy program supplemented with NSAIDs. The outcome variables were determined as passive range of motion (ROM) values and intensity of shoulder pain. The clinical assessment was performed at the initial visit and immediately after physiotherapy. One to four years after the supervised physiotherapy, the resolved patients were reevaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients was 55.4+/-9.2 years. Fifteen patients (51.7 %) were women and 14 (48.3 %) were men. The average length of supervised physiotherapy was 3.5+/-0.5 weeks. After physiotherapy, the shoulder flexion, abduction and external rotation significantly increased (p<0.001) compared with the initial values. Additionally, shoulder pain significantly decreased (p<0.001). In the follow-up, 25 (86.2 %) of 29 patients were resolved with physiotherapy, whereas 4 (13.8 %) patients required capsular release operation because of residual functional impairment. As to long-term results of patients resolved with physiotherapy, 45.4 % of cases were cured with less than a 10 % loss in total passive ROM of the shoulder, 22.7 % of cases with a total ROM loss between 10 and 20 %, 18.1 % of cases with a total ROM loss from 20 to 30 %, and lastly, 13.6% of cases with a total ROM loss up to 40 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supervised physiotherapy supplemented with NSAIDs improves the ROM values in most of patients with adhesive capsulitis. A small percentage of patients may require operative treatment (Tab. 2, Fig. 1, Ref. 23). Full Text in free PDF www.bmj.sk.
authors.affiliation: Gaziosmanpasa University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tokat, Turkey. ulusoyh@mynet.com
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ulusoy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sarica
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olcay
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Erkorkmaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002062:Bursitis / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012785:Shoulder Joint
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal