Treating frozen shoulder with tecar therapy

• What is frozen shoulder?
• Tecar therapy protocol
  • Stage 1
  • Stage 2
  • Stage 3

The video is in Italian with the possibility of selecting English subtitles

What is frozen shoulder?

Today, we’ll talk about frozen shoulder and how to treat it with tecar therapy Fisiowarm 7.0.

Frozen shoulder is quite a common condition, also known as adhesive capsulitis. According to the traditional definition, it’s a periarticular disorder that causes loss of normal range of motion. 

However, things are changing, and since 2014 the term is no longer frozen shoulder but frozen shoulder contracture syndrome (Lewis).

Based on the traditional view, this condition comprised 3 stages with recovery usually after 6 to 12 months:

• Freezing: gradual loss of normal ROM and increased pain
• Frozen: joint stiffness, loss of ROM, and persistent pain. 
• Thawing: gradual improvement of the ROM and pain reduction over a period of 6 to 12 months.

However, recent studies divide these three stages based on the condition’s progress:

• Stage 1: Predominant pain and initial structural changes
• Stage 2: Stiffness that may or may not be associated with pain
• Stage 3: Decreased pain and stiffness

Recovery may not be complete and may take more than 6 to 12 months.

Thanks to Victoria Ryan, since 2016, we no longer talk about small lesions that gradually lead to the disorder but histochemical alterations in the tissues. Inflammation and fibrosis coexist. The cause of this capsular alteration is still unknown. 

There are three factors:

1. Higher levels of cytokines, resulting in increased inflammation
2. Enzyme processes, especially metalloproteinases and their inhibitors, resulting in altered type I and type III collagen turnover.
3. Increased presence of mast cells, which trigger a cytokine storm leading to neo-angiogenesis

Tecar therapy protocol

Combining manual therapy with tecar therapy using Fisiowarm 7.0 will improve the treatment’s outcome and speed up recovery. Reducing pain, improving ROM, and restoring movement and sport-specific gestures are some of tecar therapy’s advantages. 

The treatment protocol is divided into as many stages as the condition.

Stage 1

• Capacitive bipolar electrode for 10 minutes. Frequency: 300 kHz in continuous mode
• Resistive unipolar electrode for 20 minutes. Frequency: 300 kHz in arthemic mode 3 (lower energy level)

Passive and active assist range of motion exercises are incorporated into the treatment. 

Stage 2

• Capacitive bipolar electrode for 10 minutes. Frequency: 300 kHz in continuous mode
• Resistive unipolar/Neutro Dinamico electrode for 20 minutes. Frequency: 300 kHz in continuous mode

Mobilisation techniques are incorporated into the treatment.

Stage 3

• Resistive Neutro Dinamico/static automatic electrode for 10 minutes. Frequency: 300 kHz in continuous mode

Active mobilisation and therapeutic exercise are incorporated into the treatment.