The Evaluation of Shoulder Distention Technique in the Treatment of Frozen Shoulder

Painful-stiff-shoulder is a common complain among patients who referred to the musculoskeletal clinics. This study aimed to compare the impact of shoulder distension with the routine conservative treatments of frozen shoulder.This clinical trial performed on 70 patients suffering from frozen shoulder who referred to the musculoskeletal clinic of Imam Khomeini hospital during 2005-2010. The patients were divided in to two sex and age matched groups consisting of 35 persons. One group received physio therapy along with Diclofenac Sodium 100 mg daily for two weeks. For the second group shoulder distension was performed in addition to the treatment of the first group. The amount of improvement in shoulder ranges of motions and pain reported by the patients were calculated in the both groups. The results of the two groups were compared using independent T. test.There were higher improvements in shoulder range of motion in the second group at p=0.001. The mean pain reduction in the first group was 2.6 ± 0.4 and for the second group was 5.5 ± 0.4 degrees. It was significant atp=0.001.This study revealed that shoulder distension can improve the treatment of frozen shoulder significantly.