Riassunto dello studio

Eighty-two patients with stage 2 frozen shoulder were randomized to receive either manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) followed by physiotherapy (n=40) or physiotherapy alone (n=42). The primary outcome of interest was the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) score. Secondary outcomes included pain on a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), range of motion (ROM), Oxford Shoulder Score, EuroQol 5-Dimensions (EQ-5D), Single Item Workability, Work-related questionnaire for upper extremity disorders (WORQ-UP), duration of symptoms, use of analgesics, number of repeated corticosteroid infiltrations, and number of complications. Outcomes were assessed at 1 month, 3 months, and 12 months. Overall, the results revealed that MUA led to a significantly greater improvement in SPADI scores and ROM at 3 months compared to physiotherapy alone. After 1 year, except for slightly better ROM scores for MUA, both groups showed similar outcomes. This suggests that MUA can provide faster short-term improvements in function and ROM for patients with stage 2 frozen shoulder.