The clinical effect of hydraulic distension plus manual therapy on patients with frozen shoulder

[Purpose] This study aimed to develop a clinical protocol for the treatment of frozen shoulder using applied hydraulic distension plus manual therapy. [Subjects and Methods] Patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups: 60 patients in group A were treated with hydraulic distension plus manual therapy, and 61 in group B were treated with hydraulic distension alone. Treatment effects were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (pain and satisfaction), and active range of motion of the shoulder (forward flexion, internal and external rotation) before treatments and at 2, 6, 12, 24 weeks, and 1 year after the last injections. [Results] Patients in group A achieved faster pain relief and better satisfaction than patients in group B during the 6 weeks after treatment. However, no significant difference in VAS was observed between the groups at final follow-up. AROM of the shoulder was improved at final follow-up in both groups. [Conclusion] Hydraulic distension plus manual therapy provided faster pain relief, a higher level of patient satisfaction, and an earlier improvement in AROM of the shoulder than hydraulic distension alone in patients with frozen shoulder.