Manual therapy and exercise for adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder).
Moderate EvidenceIn Plain Language: frozen shoulder, explained
A study evaluated the effectiveness of manual therapy and exercise in treating individuals with adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as frozen shoulder. It found that while this combination may provide some benefits, glucocorticoid injections were more effective in reducing pain and improving function in the short term. This research highlights the importance of understanding treatment options for better management of frozen shoulder.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about frozen shoulder
- ✓Participants given glucocorticoid injections reported a mean pain reduction of 58 points on a 100-point scale.
- ✓Manual therapy and exercise led to a 32-point reduction, indicating a 26% absolute difference in favor of glucocorticoid injections.
- ✓46% of participants in the manual therapy group reported treatment success, compared to 77% in the glucocorticoid injection group.
What This Means for You
For individuals considering reflexology for frozen shoulder, this study suggests that while reflexology may help with overall well-being, glucocorticoid injections are likely to provide more immediate relief from pain and functional limitations.
What This Means for Practitioners
Reflexology practitioners should be aware that while their treatments can contribute to a patient's overall comfort, evidence supports that manual therapy and exercise are essential components of treatment for frozen shoulder, with glucocorticoid injections being the most effective option.
Study Design: how this randomised trial was run
Limitations: what it cannot tell you about frozen shoulder
The study's evidence quality was variable, and the findings on manual therapy and exercise combinations were limited due to clinical heterogeneity across trials.
Frozen shoulder: common questions
What does this study say about frozen shoulder?
For individuals considering reflexology for frozen shoulder, this study suggests that while reflexology may help with overall well-being, glucocorticoid injections are likely to provide more immediate relief from pain and functional limitations.
What did this study find?
Participants given glucocorticoid injections reported a mean pain reduction of 58 points on a 100-point scale. Manual therapy and exercise led to a 32-point reduction, indicating a 26% absolute difference in favor of glucocorticoid injections. 46% of participants in the manual therapy group reported treatment success, compared to 77% in the glucocorticoid injection group.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 1,836 participants. It was published in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, a Q1 journal. This study is indexed here for context; it did not test reflexology itself.
What are the limitations of this study?
The study's evidence quality was variable, and the findings on manual therapy and exercise combinations were limited due to clinical heterogeneity across trials.
Related Research
Manual therapy and exercise for adhesive capsulitis: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Treatment of Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder.
Review of diabetic frozen shoulder.
Looking for a reflexologist?
Find practitioners who can help with the conditions studied in this research.
Find a Reflexologist