Effects of Acromioclavicular joint mobilization on symptoms and functional disability in patients with Frozen Shoulder Syndrome: Randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Frozen shoulder is a common disabling condition with uncertain etiology for which there is no definitive treatment protocol. The purpose of this study was to assess the Effects of Acromioclavicular joint mobilization on symptoms and functional disability in patients with Frozen Shoulder Syndrome. Methods: The present study was a randomized single-blinded clinical trial. Subjects with diagnosis of frozen shoulder who were admitted to Physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinics during one year were recruited through non-random sampling and were randomly allocated into two groups: acromioclavicular joint mobilization (for six sessions along with ten sessions physiotherapy and shoulder exercises at home) and control group (routine physiotherapy for ten sessions along with shoulder exercises at home). Primary outcomes were shoulder range of motions and disability measured with goniometry and Shoulder Pain and Diasbility index questionnaire respectively. Secondary outcome was pain intensity measured with visual analog scale. Out come measurements were taken at baseline, after each group intervention and at one month after finishing interventions. Results: A total of 24 patients in the ACJ mobilization group, 23 in the physiotherapy alone control group were finally analyzed. In both groups, significant differences were found in all parameters at after and one month after finishing intervention (P<0.05). Improvement in pain intensity and SPADI was more significant in the ACJ mobilization through the whole of the study (P<0.05). Active shoulder abduction range of motion was significantly improved immediately after the treatment in mobilization group (P=0.25) but differences between groups in other range of motion measures were statistically non significant (P>0.05).