title: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy improves short-term functional outcomes of shoulder adhesive capsulitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The treatment of adhesive capsulitis is a dilemma for orthopaedic rehabilitation specialists. In this study, we assessed whether extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) improves the functional outcome of primary shoulder adhesive capsulitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial, we enrolled 40 patients with primary adhesive capsulitis to assess whether ESWT can improve the functional outcome of primary adhesive capsulitis better than oral steroid therapy. Patients were allocated to the oral steroid group or ESWT group with randomization. Functional outcome evaluations were performed using the Constant Shoulder Score (CSS) and Oxford Shoulder Score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups showed significant improvement in the Oxford Shoulder Score evaluation throughout the study period. In the ESWT group, the total CSS and range of motion (ROM) parameter of the CSS in the ESWT group showed significant improvement from the fourth week that was better than that in the steroid group; the activities–of–daily living (ADL) parameter of the CSS achieved significance and was better than that in the steroid group at the sixth week. For the steroid group, pain was significantly reduced from baseline to the fourth week of the study; ADL and ROM improved at the fourth to 12th week. For the ESWT group, ADL and ROM improvements were significant from baseline to the sixth week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that ESWT can be an alternative treatment, at least in the short-term, for primary adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. In addition, all of the side effects of ESWT were transient and tolerable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Orthopedics, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Chian
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Wei
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yang-Hwei
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Tsuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Rong-Sen
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu City, Taiwan. Electronic address: drjssun@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jui-Sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: ckcheng@ym.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Cheng-Kung
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002062:Bursitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012785:Shoulder Joint; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids