COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF RESULTS OF PHYSIOTHERAPY ALONE, PERIARTICULAR INJECTIONS FOLLOWED BY PHYSICAL EXERCISE IN ADHESIVE CAPSULITIS OF SHOULDER

Background: Adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, is a condition characterized by pain and stiffness, significantly impacting daily activities. Traditional treatments include physiotherapy to restore motion and corticosteroid injections to reduce pain and inflammation. This study compares the outcomes of physiotherapy alone versus periarticular corticosteroid injections followed by physical exercise. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy alone versus combined periarticular injections and physical exercise in improving shoulder function, reducing pain, and enhancing quality of life in patients with adhesive capsulitis. Methods: Adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, is a condition characterized by pain and stiffness, significantly impacting daily activities. Traditional treatments include physiotherapy to restore motion and corticosteroid injections to reduce pain and inflammation. This study compares the outcomes of physiotherapy alone versus periarticular corticosteroid injections followed by physical exercise. Results: The combined treatment group showed significantly greater improvements in shoulder flexion, pain reduction, and functional recovery compared to the physiotherapy-only group. These benefits were observed immediately post-treatment and sustained at the 3-month follow-up. Conclusion: Combining periarticular injections with physical exercise is more effective than physiotherapy alone for treating adhesive capsulitis. This approach results in faster and more sustained improvements in shoulder function and pain relief, suggesting its potential for broader clinical application.