Efficacy of using microwave diathermy and interference current in patients with peritendinitis of the glenohumeral joint

Abstract

Glenohumeral peritendinitis presents a therapeutic challenge for physical medicine, especially in the acute phase, when most physical factors, applied in combination or as monotherapy, give unsatisfactory therapeutic effects. The study aims to investigate the effect of combination therapy with microwave diathermy and interference in patients with peritenitis of the glenohumeral joint. Thirty-eight patients of both sexes aged between 20 and 55 years with acute peritoneitis of the glenohumeral joint were treated with a physiotherapy complex with microwave therapy and interference current. To objectify the results we used: flexion angle, abduction and external rotation of the shoulder joint, assessment of spontaneous and palpatory pain on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Patients were evaluated three times: before the start of treatment, after the end of the therapeutic course, and on the 45th day from the beginning of the therapy. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean values (Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed) < 0.05) of palpation and spontaneous VAS pain and of SPADI values in % for patients treated with microwave therapy and interference current. We accept the null hypothesis—mean values (Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed) > 0.05) were identical and the differences were random for flexion, abduction and internal rotation of the shoulder joint between values measured after the end of treatment and on the 45th day from the beginning of treatment. This is due to the fact that after the end of the treatment the patients reached the maximum improvement, which was maintained until the 45th day from the beginning of the treatment. The reported clinical experience supports the conclusion that the proposed therapeutic technique of the combined physical complex of microwave therapy and interference current described in this report is suitable for use as a general protocol for routine clinical practice in patients with peritendinitis of the glenohumeral joint.