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

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.

Conditions

• Adhesive Capsulitis

Interventions

OTHER

Therapeutic Exercise Program

All patients were administered a therapeutic exercise program that included passive, active-assisted, and active range of motion exercises, stretching, strengthening, and mobilization exercises based on their level of movement restriction and pain intensity for 5 sessions per week for 2 weeks under the supervision of an experienced physiotherapist.

OTHER

Hot Pack

As part of the treatment protocol, a hot pack was applied to the affected shoulder area for 30 minutes prior to any other therapeutic interventions. This initial application of heat was intended to promote muscle relaxation, increase local blood circulation, and reduce joint stiffness, effectively preparing the shoulder for the subsequent treatments, including therapeutic exercise, TENS and TECAR therapy. The hot pack was maintained at a temperature between 40-45°C, which is considered optimal for achieving therapeutic heat without causing discomfort or skin irritation.

DEVICE

TECAR Therapy

TECAR therapy was administered using the BTL-6000 TR-Therapy PRO device which emitted energy at a frequency of approximately 500 kHz and used three types of electrodes: active, neutral, and static application electrodes. Each patient was seated in a comfortable position with the affected shoulder exposed, ensuring adequate support and stability throughout the treatment session. The affected shoulder was prepared with a conductive gel to enhance energy transfer. During the session, the capacitive electrode was initially applied, targeting the superficial muscles and tendons around the shoulder joint using circular or linear movements for 5 min. Following this, the resistive electrode was employed to target deeper structures, focusing on the joint capsule and rotator cuff muscles for 10 min. The output power was adjusted based on the patient's tolerance, ensuring a comfortable warm sensation without causing discomfort or burning feeling or pain.

DEVICE

TENS

TENS was employed as a non-invasive pain management technique in this study, utilizing the Intellect Advanced device manufactured by Chattanooga Group. Electrodes were strategically placed over the affected shoulder, ensuring coverage of the most painful areas as well as relevant nerve pathways to maximize the analgesic effect. A symmetric biphasic waveform was selected, with a frequency of 100 Hz and a pulse duration of 100 microseconds. The intensity of the stimulation was adjusted according to the patient's tolerance, typically aiming for a strong, yet comfortable tingling sensation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ankara City Hospital Bilkent

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Öznur Uzun, MD · Ankara City Hospital Bilkent

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

67 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-12-01

Primary Completion

2024-06-15

Completion

2024-07-20

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations