Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder, is a debilitating condition affecting the shoulder joint’s range of motion. This comparative study investigates the effectiveness of paraffin wax therapy combined with manual mobilization versus ultrasound therapy with manual mobilization in treating adhesive capsulitis in diabetic patients.
This research focused on eighty diabetic individuals diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis, divided equally into two groups. The first group received paraffin wax therapy for 10 minutes followed by manual mobilization, while the second group received 3MHz ultrasound therapy for 10 minutes followed by manual mobilization. Both groups underwent treatment three times a week for six weeks.
Outcome measures included pain levels, shoulder range of motion (ROM), and functional status, all assessed before and after the six-week intervention. The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) was used to evaluate pain and functional limitations, while a universal goniometer measured ROM. Specifically, external rotation ROM was a key focus of the study.
Following the treatment period, both groups demonstrated significant improvements in external rotation ROM, pain reduction, and enhanced functional status. However, a comparative analysis revealed that the paraffin wax therapy group exhibited statistically significant better outcomes (p<0.05) compared to the ultrasound therapy group.
This study suggests that while both paraffin wax therapy with mobilization and ultrasound therapy with mobilization offer benefits for diabetic patients with adhesive capsulitis, paraffin wax therapy combined with manual mobilization provides superior results in terms of pain relief, improved external rotation ROM, and overall functional recovery. This finding highlights the potential of paraffin wax therapy as a valuable treatment option for this specific patient population. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and investigate the underlying mechanisms responsible for the observed differences.
