2% – 5% of the world’s population is affected by frozen shoulder.
Frozen shoulder is a common condition that affects the shoulder joint caused by inflammation or injury.
The tissue surrounding the shoulder joint, called the capsule, becomes thick and tight, reducing the range of motion and causing stiffness and pain.
Frozen shoulder is most developed in older women, although men can also be affected. People recovering from surgery or recovering from conditions such as a stroke are also more likely to develop frozen shoulder.
For individuals living with frozen shoulder, shockwave therapy is an effective treatment that can restore mobility and alleviate pain.
How Does Shockwave Therapy Treat Frozen Shoulder?
Shockwave therapy uses acoustic wave pressures to target the capsule to reduce pain and speed up healing. Depending on the severity of the frozen shoulder, the shockwave therapy can be radial to treat a wider area of tissue near the surface or focussed to treat a smaller volume of deeper tissue.
Shockwave therapy disrupts the fibrous tissues to promote blood flow in the area. It also breaks up the calcified deposits in the shoulder and loosens the joint structures to encourage calcium resorption, decrease pain, and improve shoulder function.
Scientific Evidence of Shockwave Therapy for Frozen Shoulder
Published by the International Journal of Preventive Medicine, a randomized clinical trial study of 36 patients with frozen shoulder was conducted. Eligible patients were separated into an intervention group, receiving shockwave therapy once a week for four weeks, and a control group, receiving a placebo shockwave therapy over the same period.
When patients were assessed on performance and pain after the treatments, the intervention group showed positive effects on the acceleration of the healing process. The intervention group also showed significant improvement in the mobility of the shoulder area.
Similarly, a study comparing shockwave therapy and ultrasound-guided low-dose intra-articular steroid injection for pain reduction and functional improvement discovered that shockwave therapy patients had a significantly greater function and shoulder pain reduction.
Compared to other treatment methods, shockwave therapy is non-invasive, drug-free, low cost, and patients don’t require hospitalization. If you are a practitioner interested in the benefits of shockwave therapy, contact us today to request a demo by calling 1 (888) 741-SHOC(7462) or visiting https://shockwavecanada.com/.