Static progressive stretch is effective in treating shoulder adhesive capsulitis: Prospective, randomized, controlled study with a two-year follow-up

Abstract

Static progressive stretch (SPS) devices are used to restore shoulder functional mobility in patients with adhesive capsulitis. The purpose of this prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled, clinical study was to compare traditional physical therapy alone with a combination of traditional physical therapy and SPS device use in the treatment of shoulder adhesive capsulitis. Sixty patients diagnosed with shoulder adhesive capsulitis were randomly assigned to either the control group (n = 30) or experimental group (n = 30). Both groups received three physical therapy sessions per week for 4 weeks, while the experimental group used in addition a SPS device for 4 weeks. Shoulder active and passive abduction, and passive external rotation range of motion (ROM) degrees, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores, and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were recorded for all patients at baseline, and at 4, 12, 24, 52 and 104 weeks later. At 104 weeks from baseline, statistical analysis demonstrated that traditional physical therapy and the SPS device resulted in significantly increased mean shoulder active and passive abduction, and passive external rotation ROM degrees, and reduced mean DASH scores compared to traditional physical therapy alone (p < 0.001). Although the mean VAS scores were markedly reduced in both groups, the difference between the two was not significant (p > 0.05). At 104 weeks, the mean shoulder active abduction remained increased by 111°, passive abduction by 79° and passive external rotation by 66°, the mean DASH scores remained decreased by 97% and VAS pain scores by 71% in the experimental group compared to 33°, 49° and 28°, 50% and 63%, respectively, in the control group. In conclusion, this study showed lasting favorable effects of the SPS device used with traditional physical therapy in treating subjects with shoulder adhesive capsulitis.