Clinical trial NCT04289610: Transcutaneous Pulse Radiofrequency Treatment for Subacromial Impingement Syndrome
Official title: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Transcutaneous Pulse Radiofrequency Treatment in Subacromial Impingement Syndrome Patients
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
Keywords: Shoulder Pain
Transcutaneous radiofrequency treatment
Ultrasound
Lead sponsor: Gazi University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2020-02-28
Enrollment: 55
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Shoulder pain is the most common musculoskeletal problem after low back and neck pain. Subacromial impingement syndrome is one of the most common diseases that causes shoulder pain. Many methods are used to reduce pain and accelerate functional rehabilitation in patients with shoulder pain. Transcutaneous pulse radiofrequency therapy (TCPRF) is a needle-free, painless, and outpatient physical therapy modality that can be used to treat shoulder impingement syndrome. Acromio-humeral distance and supraspinatus tendon thickness measurements with ultrasound are reliable and effective methods to diagnose subacromial impingement syndrome. Although there are previous studies investigating the effectiveness of TCPRF treatment in patients with shoulder pain, there are no studies evaluating the effectiveness of treatment with ultrasound examination. In this study, the investigators aimed to show the effect of TCPRF treatment on pain, range of motion, functional status and ultrasound findings in subacromial impingement syndrome.

Detailed description: Shoulder pain is the most common musculoskeletal problem after low back and neck pain. It has negative socioeconomic effects on patient's daily life (1). Subacromial impingement syndrome is one of the most common diseases of the shoulder and seen in 44-65% of patients who consult a doctor with shoulder pain. This syndrome spectrum includes supraspinatus tendon partial tears, supraspinatus tendinitis, calcific tendinitis and subacromial bursitis. Many treatments are used to reduce pain and accelerate functional rehabilitation in patients with shoulder pain. These treatments include analgesic physical therapy agents (superficial hot and cold applications, deep heaters, diadynamic currents, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, interferential current, short wave diathermy), therapeutic exercises, massage, functional electrical stimulation, acupuncture, analgesics, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, oral steroids and steroid injections. Transcutaneous pulse radiofrequency therapy (TCPRF) is a painless and outpatient physiotherapy modality that does not require any anesthesia or sedation. TCRPF can also be used in some other painful conditions of the chin, neck, lower back, wrist, knee, elbow and ankle regions. Ultrasound measurement of acromio-humeral distance and supraspinatus tendon thickness are reliable and effective methods for demonstrating subacromial impingement syndrome. Although there have been previous studies investigating the effectiveness of TCPRF treatment in patients with shoulder pain, the number of these studies are insufficient. In addition, there are no studies evaluating the effectiveness of treatment by ultrasound examination. In this study, the investigators aimed to evaluate the effect of TCPRF treatment on pain, range of motion and functional status in subacromial impingement syndrome patients by means of clinical and ultrasound findings.

The study will be conducted between January 2020 and January 2021 at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Fifty patients with subacromial impingement syndrome are planned to be recruited for the study.

The patients included in the study will be randomized into two groups with a computer program. In order to comply with the double-blind study protocol, the researcher performing the randomization of the patients will not participate in the treatment and evaluation processes. Demographic data of patients will be recorded at the beginning of the study. Therapeutic exercises and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy will be initiated to all patients. Detailed shoulder joint range of motion examination, visual analog scale, shoulder pain and disability index, quality of life scale (SF-36), shoulder ultrasound examination for acromio-humeral distance and supraspinatus tendon thickness measurements will be performed before and after treatment (Basal, 1st, 4th and 12th weeks). A pair of TCPRF electrodes will be applied to the painful shoulder at six standardized sites for 2 minutes each (approximately a total of 15 minutes). The device is not going to be activated in the control group. It will be activated in the study group. In the study group device will be set at 80 V, every pulse will continue for 10 milliseconds and 5 pulses per second. In the control group the device will be set at 0 V. TCPRF treatment is going to be applied for one session in both groups. During the three-month follow-up period, therapeutic exercises and as long as it is considered necessary nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will be continued in both groups.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* 18- 65 years of age
* Having (chronic) shoulder pain for more than 3 months
* No treatment for shoulder pain (physical therapy, joint area injection, radiofrequency treatment) in the past 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

* Systemic rheumatic diseases

  * Malignancy, acute infections Adhesive capsulitis
  * Bicipital tendinitis
  * Supraspinatus tendon full-thickness rupture
  * Those who have undergone surgery for shoulders and neck
  * Pace maker
  * Pregnant women Those with cervical radiculopathy
  * Those who do not agree to participate in the study

Primary outcomes:
measure: The effect of transcutaneous pulsed radiofrequency (TCPRF) treatment on shoulder pain in subacromial impingement syndrome.
timeFrame: Change from baseline VAS at 1st week, 4th week and 12th week.
measure: The effect of transcutaneous pulsed radiofrequency (TCPRF) treatment on shoulder range of motion in subacromial impingement syndrome.
timeFrame: Change from baseline shoulder range of motion at 1st week, 4th week and 12th week.
measure: The effect of transcutaneous pulsed radiofrequency (TCPRF) treatment on shoulder disability in subacromial impingement syndrome.
timeFrame: Change from baseline shoulder disability at 1st week, 4th week and 12th week.
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Measurement of Acromiohumoral Distance
timeFrame: Change from baseline acromiohumoral distance at 1st week, 4th week and 12th week.
measure: Assessment of Quality of life (QOL)
timeFrame: Change from baseline Assessment of Quality of life (QOL) at 1st week, 4th week and 12th week.
measure: Measurement of Supraspinatus Tendon Thickness
timeFrame: Change from baseline supraspinatus tendon thickness at 1st week, 4th week and 12th week.
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Ankara
country: Turkey
facility: Gazi University Medical School, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department
Study officials:
References:
citation: Taverner M, Loughnan T. Transcutaneous pulsed radiofrequency treatment for patients with shoulder pain booked for surgery: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Pain Pract. 2014 Feb;14(2):101-8. doi: 10.1111/papr.12059. Epub 2013 Apr 8.
citation: Kul A, Ugur M. Comparison of the Efficacy of Conventional Physical Therapy Modalities and Kinesio Taping Treatments in Shoulder Impingement Syndrome. Eurasian J Med. 2019 Jun;51(2):139-144. doi: 10.5152/eurasianjmed.2018.17421. Epub 2018 Nov 30.
citation: Taverner MG, Ward TL, Loughnan TE. Transcutaneous pulsed radiofrequency treatment in patients with painful knee awaiting total knee joint replacement. Clin J Pain. 2010 Jun;26(5):429-32. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e3181d92a87.
citation: McCreesh KM, Anjum S, Crotty JM, Lewis JS. Ultrasound measures of supraspinatus tendon thickness and acromiohumeral distance in rotator cuff tendinopathy are reliable. J Clin Ultrasound. 2016 Mar-Apr;44(3):159-66. doi: 10.1002/jcu.22318. Epub 2015 Dec 15.