Frozen Shoulder - Evaluating the Effectiveness of Physical Therapy against Other Interventions Like Corticosteroid Injections, Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and Surgical Options – A Literature Review
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition characterized by pain and progressive restriction of shoulder joint movement, significantly affecting quality of life. This literature review evaluates the comparative efficacy of physical therapy against other therapeuti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Quality in Sport |
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| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/59147 |
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| author | Michał Presak Marlena Jankowska Karolina Baran Natalia Jańczyk Karolina Mędrysa Jakub Pokrzepa Gabriela Blecharz Julia Szwech Alicja Winkowska Adrianna Mielżyńska |
| author_facet | Michał Presak Marlena Jankowska Karolina Baran Natalia Jańczyk Karolina Mędrysa Jakub Pokrzepa Gabriela Blecharz Julia Szwech Alicja Winkowska Adrianna Mielżyńska |
| author_sort | Michał Presak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition characterized by pain and progressive restriction of shoulder joint movement, significantly affecting quality of life. This literature review evaluates the comparative efficacy of physical therapy against other therapeutic interventions, including corticosteroid injections, NSAIDs, and surgical options such as manipulation under anesthesia and arthroscopic capsular release. The study highlights the need for individualized treatment strategies and further research to refine clinical guidelines.
The management of frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) requires a tailored approach, considering the stage of the condition and patient-specific factors. Physical therapy remains a cornerstone of treatment, particularly in the frozen and thawing stages, and is most effective when combined with other interventions. While corticosteroid injections demonstrate significant short-term benefits in pain relief and functional improvement, their efficacy diminishes over time unless supported by a structured rehabilitation program. NSAIDs are primarily beneficial for managing inflammation and pain in the early stages but do not significantly alter the course of the condition when used in isolation. Surgical interventions such as manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) and arthroscopic capsular release are reserved for cases resistant to conservative management. Though both surgical options yield comparable outcomes, arthroscopic capsular release is increasingly favored due to its precision and reduced risk of complications compared to MUA. Overall, early intervention with a multimodal strategy incorporating corticosteroid injections, targeted physical therapy, and patient education optimizes outcomes. Future research should focus on identifying patient subgroups that benefit most from specific interventions and on standardizing treatment protocols.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7a69609e35a84aa089625cc86dcc8a02 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2450-3118 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quality in Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-7a69609e35a84aa089625cc86dcc8a022025-08-20T01:49:23ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-03-013910.12775/QS.2025.39.59147Frozen Shoulder - Evaluating the Effectiveness of Physical Therapy against Other Interventions Like Corticosteroid Injections, Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and Surgical Options – A Literature ReviewMichał Presakhttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-0335-5917Marlena Jankowskahttps://orcid.org/0009-0005-2240-8853Karolina Baranhttps://orcid.org/0009-0004-1627-5065Natalia Jańczykhttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-1862-9681Karolina Mędrysahttps://orcid.org/0009-0002-1557-0244Jakub Pokrzepahttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-7907-1511Gabriela Blecharzhttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-9275-3913Julia Szwechhttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-3792-0101Alicja Winkowskahttps://orcid.org/0009-0005-2050-0031Adrianna Mielżyńskahttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-7359-4796Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition characterized by pain and progressive restriction of shoulder joint movement, significantly affecting quality of life. This literature review evaluates the comparative efficacy of physical therapy against other therapeutic interventions, including corticosteroid injections, NSAIDs, and surgical options such as manipulation under anesthesia and arthroscopic capsular release. The study highlights the need for individualized treatment strategies and further research to refine clinical guidelines. The management of frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) requires a tailored approach, considering the stage of the condition and patient-specific factors. Physical therapy remains a cornerstone of treatment, particularly in the frozen and thawing stages, and is most effective when combined with other interventions. While corticosteroid injections demonstrate significant short-term benefits in pain relief and functional improvement, their efficacy diminishes over time unless supported by a structured rehabilitation program. NSAIDs are primarily beneficial for managing inflammation and pain in the early stages but do not significantly alter the course of the condition when used in isolation. Surgical interventions such as manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) and arthroscopic capsular release are reserved for cases resistant to conservative management. Though both surgical options yield comparable outcomes, arthroscopic capsular release is increasingly favored due to its precision and reduced risk of complications compared to MUA. Overall, early intervention with a multimodal strategy incorporating corticosteroid injections, targeted physical therapy, and patient education optimizes outcomes. Future research should focus on identifying patient subgroups that benefit most from specific interventions and on standardizing treatment protocols. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/59147Frozen ShoulderAdhesive CapsulitisPhysical TherapyIntra-articular Corticosteroid Injectionsnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) |
| spellingShingle | Michał Presak Marlena Jankowska Karolina Baran Natalia Jańczyk Karolina Mędrysa Jakub Pokrzepa Gabriela Blecharz Julia Szwech Alicja Winkowska Adrianna Mielżyńska Frozen Shoulder - Evaluating the Effectiveness of Physical Therapy against Other Interventions Like Corticosteroid Injections, Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and Surgical Options – A Literature Review Quality in Sport Frozen Shoulder Adhesive Capsulitis Physical Therapy Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injections non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) |
| title | Frozen Shoulder - Evaluating the Effectiveness of Physical Therapy against Other Interventions Like Corticosteroid Injections, Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and Surgical Options – A Literature Review |
| title_full | Frozen Shoulder - Evaluating the Effectiveness of Physical Therapy against Other Interventions Like Corticosteroid Injections, Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and Surgical Options – A Literature Review |
| title_fullStr | Frozen Shoulder - Evaluating the Effectiveness of Physical Therapy against Other Interventions Like Corticosteroid Injections, Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and Surgical Options – A Literature Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Frozen Shoulder - Evaluating the Effectiveness of Physical Therapy against Other Interventions Like Corticosteroid Injections, Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and Surgical Options – A Literature Review |
| title_short | Frozen Shoulder - Evaluating the Effectiveness of Physical Therapy against Other Interventions Like Corticosteroid Injections, Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and Surgical Options – A Literature Review |
| title_sort | frozen shoulder evaluating the effectiveness of physical therapy against other interventions like corticosteroid injections non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs nsaids and surgical options a literature review |
| topic | Frozen Shoulder Adhesive Capsulitis Physical Therapy Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injections non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/59147 |
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