Comparison of the early response to two methods of rehabilitation in adhesive capsulitis.
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PRINCIPLE: A randomised, comparative prospective clinical trial was planned to compare the early response to different rehabilitation methods for adhesive capsulitis taking into consideration the clinical efficacy and the cost effectiveness of the methods. METHODS: Forty patients with adhesive capsulitis were randomised into two treatment groups. The first group (CYR) received the Cyriax approach of deep friction massage and mobilisation exercises three times weekly. The second group (PT) had daily physical therapy including hot pack and short wave diathermy application. Both groups concluded their treatments with stretching exercises and were also instructed to a daily home exercise program. The primary end point of the study was to reach 80% of the normal passive range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder in all planes within a period of two weeks. Secondary end points were the overall ROM and pain response (spontaneous pain, night pain and pain with motion) to each treatment. RESULTS: 19 patients in the CYR group (95%) and 13 patients in the PT group (65%) reached sufficient ROM at the end of the second week (p <0.05). The improvement in shoulder flexion, inner and outer rotation values and the decrease in pain with motion were significantly better in the CYR group after the first week of treatment. CONCLUSION: The Cyriax method of rehabilitation provides a faster and better response than the conventional physical therapy methods in the early phase of treatment in adhesive capsulitis. The method is non-invasive, effective and requires fewer hospital visits for a sufficient early response. (+info)
Interrater reproducibility of clinical tests for rotator cuff lesions.
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BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff lesions are common in the community but reproducibility of tests for shoulder assessment has not been adequately appraised and there is no uniform approach to their use. OBJECTIVE: To study interrater reproducibility of standard tests for shoulder evaluation among a rheumatology specialist, rheumatology trainee, and research nurse. METHODS: 136 patients were reviewed over 12 months at a major teaching hospital. The three assessors examined each patient in random order and were unaware of each other's evaluation. Each shoulder was examined in a standard manner by recognised tests for specific lesions and a diagnostic algorithm was used. Between-observer agreement was determined by calculating Cohen's kappa coefficients (measuring agreement beyond that expected by chance). RESULTS: Fair to substantial agreement was obtained for the observations of tenderness, painful arc, and external rotation. Tests for supraspinatus and subscapularis also showed at least fair agreement between observers. 40/55 (73%) kappa coefficient assessments were rated at >0.2, indicating at least fair concordance between observers; 21/55 (38%) were rated at >0.4, indicating at least moderate concordance between observers. CONCLUSION: The reproducibility of certain tests, employed by observers of varying experience, in the assessment of the rotator cuff and general shoulder disease was determined. This has implications for delegation of shoulder assessment to nurse specialists, the development of a simplified evaluation schedule for general practitioners, and uniformity in epidemiological research studies. (+info)
Idiopathic adhesive capsulitis: long-term results of conservative treatment.
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BACKGROUND: Adhesive capsulitis, also termed "frozen shoulder," is controversial by definition and diagnostic criteria that are not sufficiently understood. The clinical course of this condition is considered self-limiting and is divided into three clinical phases. Several treatment methods for adhesive capsulitis have been reported in the literature, none of which has proven superior to others. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term follow-up of patients with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis who were treated conservatively. METHODS: We conducted a long-term follow-up (range 5.5-16 years, mean 9.2 years) of 54 patients suffering from idiopathic adhesive capsulitis. All patients were treated with physical therapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. RESULTS: An increased statistically significant improvement (P < 0.00001) was found between the first and last visits to the clinic in all measured movement directions: elevation and external and internal rotation. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative treatment (physical therapy and NSAIDs) is a good long-term treatment regimen for idiopathic adhesive capsulitis. (+info)
Interspinous bursitis in an athlete.
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We present a case of L2/3 interspinous bursitis treated with extraspinal injections. No previous investigations have used fluoroscopically guided spinal injections to confirm the clinical relevance of the MRI features of this type of bursae. Autopsy studies have revealed an increased incidence of interspinous lumbar bursal cavities with advancing age. Afflicted patients present with localised, midline lower lumbar pain exacerbated by extension. In young athletes these symptoms can mimic spondylolysis. MRI is useful in detecting soft-tissue injury of the posterior elements. Fluoroscopically guided diagnostic and therapeutic extraspinal injections can be used for confirmation and treatment of pain from such bursae. (+info)
Short course prednisolone for adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder or stiff painful shoulder): a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial.
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OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a short course of prednisolone is superior to placebo for improving pain, function, and range of motion in adhesive capsulitis. DESIGN: Double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial. SETTING: Community based rheumatology practice in Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 50 participants (24 active, 26 placebo); 46 completed the 12 week protocol. Entry criteria were age > or =18 years, pain and stiffness in predominantly one shoulder for > or =3 weeks, and restriction of passive motion by >30 degrees in two or more planes. INTERVENTIONS: 30 mg oral prednisolone/day for three weeks or placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Overall, night, and activity related pain, SPADI, Croft shoulder disability questionnaire, DASH, HAQ, SF-36, participant rated improvement, and range of active motion measured at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 weeks. RESULTS: At 3 weeks, there was greater improvement in overall pain in the prednisolone group than in the placebo group (mean (SD) change from baseline, 4.1 (2.3) v 1.4 (2.3); adjusted difference in mean change between the two groups, 2.4 (95% CI, 1.1 to 3.8)). There was also greater improvement in disability, range of active motion, and participant rated improvement (marked or moderate overall improvement in 22/23 v 11/23; RR = 2 (1.3 to 3.1), p = 0.001). At 6 weeks the analysis favoured the prednisolone group for most outcomes but none of the differences was significant. At 12 weeks, the analysis tended to favour the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: A three week course of 30 mg prednisolone daily is of significant short term benefit in adhesive capsulitis but benefits are not maintained beyond six weeks. (+info)
Corticosteroid injections for trochanteric bursitis: is fluoroscopy necessary? A pilot study.
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BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have demonstrated that therapeutic injections carried out to treat a variety of different pain conditions should ideally be performed under radiological guidance because of the propensity for blinded injections to be inaccurate. Although trochanteric bursa injections are commonly performed to treat hip pain, they have never been described using fluoroscopy. METHODS: The authors reviewed recorded data on 40 patients who underwent trochanteric bursa injections for hip pain with or without low back pain. The initial needle placement was done blindly, with all subsequent attempts done using fluoroscopic guidance. After bone contact, imaging was used to determine if the needle was positioned on the lateral edge of the greater trochanter (GT). Once this occurred, 1 ml of radiopaque contrast was injected to assess bursa spread. RESULTS: The GT was contacted in 78% of cases and a bursagram obtained in 45% of patients on the first needle placement. In 23% of patients a bursagram was obtained on the second attempt and in another 23% on the third attempt. Four patients (10%) required four or more needle placements before a bursagram was appreciated. Attending physicians obtained a bursagram on the first attempt 53% of the time vs 46% for fellows and 36% for residents (P=0.64). Older patients were more likely to require multiple injections than younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: Radiological confirmation of bursal spread is necessary to ensure that the injectate reaches the area of pathology during trochanteric bursa injections. (+info)
OBJECTIVE: We wished to report on the MRI findings of non-infectious ischiogluteal bursitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MRI findings of 17 confirmed cases of non-infectious ischiogluteal bursitis were analyzed: four out of the 17 cases were confirmed with surgery, and the remaining 13 cases were confirmed with MRI plus the clinical data. RESULTS: The enlarged bursae were located deep to the gluteus muscles and postero-inferior to the ischial tuberosity. The superior ends of the bursal sacs abutted to the infero-medial aspect of the ischial tuberosity. The signal intensity within the enlarged bursa on T1-weighted image (WI) was hypo-intense in three cases (3/17, 17.6%), iso-intense in 10 cases (10/17, 58.9%), and hyper-intense in four cases (4/17, 23.5%) in comparison to that of surrounding muscles. The bursal sac appeared homogeneous in 13 patients (13/17, 76.5%) and heterogeneous in the remaining four patients (4/17, 23.5%) on T1-WI. On T2-WI, the bursa was hyper-intense in all cases (17/17, 100%); it was heterogeneous in 10 cases and homogeneous in seven cases. The heterogeneity was variable depending on the degree of the blood-fluid levels and the septae within the bursae. With contrast enhancement, the inner wall of the bursae was smooth (5/17 cases), and irregular (12/17 cases) because of the synovial proliferation and septation. CONCLUSION: Ischiogluteal bursitis can be diagnosed with MRI by its characteristic location and cystic appearance. (+info)
A randomized controlled trial of intra-articular triamcinolone and/or physiotherapy in shoulder capsulitis.
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OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of intra-articular triamcinolone injection and physiotherapy singly or combined in the treatment of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. METHODS: Eighty patients with adhesive capsulitis of less than 6 months duration were randomized to one of four groups: Group A, injection of triamcinolone 20 mg and eight sessions of standardized physiotherapy; Group B, injection of triamcinolone 20 mg alone; Group C, placebo injection and eight sessions of standardized physiotherapy; or Group D, placebo injection alone. All subjects were given an identical home exercise programme. Outcome measures were assessed at 6 weeks and 16 weeks. The primary outcome measure was Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ) score. Secondary outcomes were measurement of pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS), global disability using VAS and range of passive external rotation. A two-way analysis of variance was used to explore the effects of corticosteroid injection and physiotherapy. RESULTS: At 6 weeks, the SDQ had improved significantly more in the groups receiving corticosteroid injection (P = 0.004). Physiotherapy improved passive external rotation at 6 weeks (P = 0.02) and corticosteroid injection improved self-assessment of global disability at 6 weeks (P = 0.04). There was no interaction effect between injection and physiotherapy. At 16 weeks, all groups had improved to a similar degree with respect to all outcome measures. CONCLUSION: Corticosteroid injection is effective in improving shoulder-related disability, and physiotherapy is effective in improving the range of movement in external rotation 6 weeks after treatment. (+info)