A Comparative Study on the Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and Interferential Electrotherapy in Periarthritis Humeroscapularis

Abstract

Introduction: Periarthritis humeroscapularis is one of the most common causes of pain in the shoulder joint. The most applied treatment is conservative. Physical therapy and therapeutic modalities are effective, but there is uncertainty about their optimal combination. Objective: To examine whether the addition of either extracorporeal shock wave therapy or interferential electrotherapy to physical therapy of shoulder would be more effective in the management of periarthritis humeroscapularis. Materials and Methods: A total of 35 subjects with periarthritis humeroscapularis were divided into Group-A and Group-B. Both groups received 10 sessions of shoulder exercises and either extracorporeal shock wave therapy (Group-A) or interferential electrotherapy (Group-B). The outcome measures represent the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Score - the patient self-evaluation section (pain and activities of daily living) and the clinical assessment section (active and passive range of motion, strength, and stability). Results: Subjects showed statistically significant differences in reducing pain, improving range of motion and functional disability in the pre and post values of both the extracorporeal shock wave therapy and interferential electrotherapy groups. Group A was superior in improving external rotation ROM from abduction and flexion and Group B in alleviating pain. Conclusion: Either extracorporeal shock wave therapy or interferential electrotherapy in combination with physical therapy seemed to be significantly effective in the management of patients of periarthritis humeroscapularis. However, the group who received interferential electrotherapy showed higher improvement in pain, and the group with extracorporeal shock wave therapy demonstrated higher improvement in range of motion.