Impact of TECAR Therapy on Pain and Function in Adhesive Capsulitis:

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Adhesive Capsulitis

• Registration Number: NCT06784128
• Lead Sponsor: Ankara City Hospital Bilkent

Brief Summary

Transfer Energy Capacitive and Resistive (TECAR) therapy is a heat therapy method that increases blood circulation at the microscopic level by generating heat in the upper and lower layers of your tissues, reduces inflammation and supports tissue regeneration. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether this treatment reduces pain and improves functioning in patients with frozen shoulder disease.

Detailed Description

Adhesive capsulitis (AC), commonly known as "frozen shoulder," is a prevalent and painful condition resulting from the contracture of the glenohumeral capsule, which significantly impacts individuals' quality of life. While AC is self-limiting in many cases, some patients may experience long-term functional limitations if not treated promptly. One promising intervention is transfer energy capacitive and resistive (TECAR) therapy, which has gained attention for its potential to enhance tissue regeneration, reduce inflammation, and improve pain management by generating heat in superficial and deep tissues. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of TECAR therapy on pain and functional outcomes in patients with adhesive capsulitis (AC).

This prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial included 60 patients \[TECAR group: 30, (50.37 ± 13.90 years); control group: 30, (55.27 ± 10.44 years)\]. Both groups completed a 2-week tailored therapeutic exercise program, with 30-minute hot pack application and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. The TECAR group also received three TECAR therapy sessions per week, for a total of six sessions. Pain was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional status with the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and supraspinatus tendon thickness and bicipital effusion were assessed via ultrasonography. Evaluations were conducted at baseline, 1 and 3 months post-treatment.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-12-01
• Primary Completion: 2024-06-15
• Study Completion: 2024-07-20
• Status Verified: 2025-01
• Study First Submitted: 2025-01-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-01-15
• Study First Posted: 2025-01-20
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-01-27
• Last Update Posted: 2025-01-29

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients who were than 18 years of age
• Patients with unilateral shoulder pain of at least 3 on a 10-point Visual Analog Scale (VAS);
• Patients who experienced a more than 50% loss of passive ROM (abduction or external rotation) in the glenohumeral joint relative to the unaffected side
• Patients who had been experiencing the related symptoms for ≥ 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients who had previous shoulder surgery
• Patients who had shoulder injection within the last 3 months
• Patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease,
• Patients with cervical radiculopathy
• Pregnant patients
• Pateints with thyroid disease
• Patients with malignancy,
• Patients who had history of cardiac pacemakers,
• Patients with epilepsy
• Patients who had neurological disease with or without cognitive impairment

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain	VAS for pain was applied to the patients before the procedure and at the 4th week and the 12th week after the procedure.	The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was employed to evaluate pain intensity in patients. This scale features a 10 cm horizontal line, where one end represents "no pain" (0) and the other represents "worst imaginable pain" (10). Patients were instructed to place a mark on the line that best reflected their current pain level. The distance from the "no pain" end to the patient's mark was measured in centimeters and recorded as the VAS score, providing a numeric representation of their pain intensity

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)	SPADI) was applied to the patients before the procedure and at the 4th week and 12th week after the procedure.	The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) was used to evaluate both pain and functional limitations related to shoulder disorders. SPADI is a patient-reported outcome measure consisting of 13 items, divided into two subscales: pain (5 items) and disability (8 items). Each item is rated on a numerical rating scale (0:no pain or difficulty to 10:worst pain imaginable or extreme difficulty). The scores for each subscale are averaged to create a total score, expressed as a percentage, with higher scores reflecting greater pain and disability. SPADI is widely recognized and validated for assessing shoulder-related pain and functional impairment in both clinical practice and research

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital; 🇹🇷 Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey