An effective progressive stretch device for frozen shoulder

Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder affects 3-6% of the general population and little evidence exists to support treatments that reduce recovery time. The current study compared manual therapy alone to manual therapy PLUS the use of a static progressive stretch device in patients with frozen shoulder.

60 patients with stage 3 or 4 adhesive capsulitis were included in the prospective, randomised 4 week study. The intervention group underwent 3 manual therapy sessions per week PLUS 30mins/day on the passive, progressive stretch device which increased to 3 sessions/day by the 4th week. 

Both groups improved in pain, function and range of motion with the intervention group achieving significantly greater improvements in range of motion. Passive abduction ROM improved by 37% in the control group and 65% in the intervention group.

> From: Ibrahim et al., Physiotherapy 100 (2015) 228-234. All rights reserved to Elsevier Ltd. Click here for the Pubmed summary.