No effect of bipolar interferential electrotherapy and pulsed ultrasound for soft tissue shoulder disorders: a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of bipolar interferential electrotherapy (ET) and pulsed ultrasound (US) as adjuvants to exercise therapy for soft tissue shoulder disorders (SD). METHODS Randomised placebo controlled trial with a two by two factorial design plus an additional control group in 17 pr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of the rheumatic diseases 1999-09, Vol.58 (9), p.530-540
Main Authors: van der Heijden, Geert J M G, Leffers, Pieter, Wolters, Pieter J M C, Verheijden, José J D, van Mameren, Henk, Houben, Jo P, Bouter, Lex M, Knipschild, Paul G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Analgesics
Biological and medical sciences
clinical trial
Combined Modality Therapy
Connective Tissue Diseases - therapy
Diseases of the osteoarticular system. Orthopedic treatment
Electric Stimulation Therapy - methods
Exercise Therapy
Extended Report
Family physicians
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Hemophilia
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Multiple sclerosis
Neck
physiotherapy
placebo controlled
Placebo effect
Primary care
Prognosis
Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects)
Rheumatoid arthritis
Shoulder
Shoulder Pain - therapy
Single-Blind Method
Therapists
Therapy
transcutaneous electrotherapy
Treatment Outcome
Ultrasonic imaging
Ultrasonic Therapy - methods
ultrasound
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of bipolar interferential electrotherapy (ET) and pulsed ultrasound (US) as adjuvants to exercise therapy for soft tissue shoulder disorders (SD). METHODS Randomised placebo controlled trial with a two by two factorial design plus an additional control group in 17 primary care physiotherapy practices in the south of the Netherlands. Patients with shoulder pain and/or restricted shoulder mobility, because of a soft tissue impairment without underlying specific or generalised condition, were enrolled if they had not recovered after six sessions of exercise therapy in two weeks. They were randomised to receive (1) active ET plus active US; (2) active ET plus dummy US; (3) dummy ET plus active US; (4) dummy ET plus dummy US; or (5) no adjuvants. Additionally, they received a maximum of 12 sessions of exercise therapy in six weeks. Measurements at baseline, 6 weeks and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months later were blinded for treatment. Outcome measures: recovery, functional status, chief complaint, pain, clinical status, and range of motion. RESULTS After written informed consent 180 patients were randomised: both the active treatments were given to 73 patients, both the dummy treatments to 72 patients, and 35 patients received no adjuvants. Prognosis of groups appeared similar at baseline. Blinding was successfully maintained. At six weeks seven patients (20%) without adjuvants reported very large improvement (including complete recovery), 17 (23%) and 16 (22%) with active and dummy ET, and 19 (26%) and 14 (19%) with active and dummy US. These proportions increased to about 40% at three months, but remained virtually stable thereafter. Up to 12 months follow up the 95% CI for differences between groups for all outcomes include zero. CONCLUSION Neither ET nor US prove to be effective as adjuvants to exercise therapy for soft tissue SD.
ISSN:0003-4967
1468-2060
DOI:10.1136/ard.58.9.530