Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that causes stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint, reducing mobility over time. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop frozen shoulder, and it is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder of the upper extremity among people with diabetes. It can take two to three years for this condition to fully recover, but shockwave therapy can significantly shorten the healing time.
Frozen Shoulder Treatment
Traditionally, when symptoms become severe, patients will be treated with surgery or injected with steroids. However, for people with diabetes, steroid injections can significant raise glucose levels have a shorter duration of benefits.
With surgery, physical therapy is still needed to main mobility, and recovery time can take between six weeks to three months. In some cases, even after several years, mobility doesn’t fully return, and some degree of stiffness remains.
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy produces an acoustic pressure wave at the point of contact that transmits radially inside the patient’s body tissue, accelerating the healing process by stimulating the metabolism and enhancing blood circulation to regenerate damaged tissue. It is drug-free and non-invasive.
A study from the University of Rome published in the medical journal Diabetes Care confirms the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in frozen shoulder.
Researchers looked at fifty patients with diabetes suffering from frozen shoulder. The patients received shockwave therapy once a week for three weeks. Two months after the trial began, researchers noted significant functional improvements along with no relevant side effects.
Researchers concluded that shockwave therapy presented “a viable alternative” for patients with diabetes experiencing frozen shoulder.
Another study published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science compared the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in frozen shoulder to ultrasound therapy. Twenty patients with diabetes were divided into two equal groups. Researchers concluded that “extracorporeal shock wave therapy significantly reduced pain in people with diabetic frozen shoulder with a reduction of treatment cost” compared to the group who received ultrasound therapy.
Shockwave Canada offers a variety of devices for physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, doctors, veterinarians, and horse trainers.. Handmade in Switzerland, Storz Medical’s extracorporeal shockwave therapy machines can treat a number of other issues in addition to frozen shoulder, including plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and tennis elbow.
If you would like to incorporate the long-term benefits of shockwave therapy into your practice, contact us today by dialing 1 (888) 741-SHOC(7462) or by visiting our website.
