• Ming-Yu Lo, Chueh-Hung Wu, Jer-Junn Luh, Tyng-Guey Wang, Li-Chen Fu, Jaung-Geng Lin, and Jin-Shin Lai.
• School of Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medicine University, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
• J Formos Med Assoc. 2020 Jan 1; 119 (1 Pt 1): 81-88.

PurposeFrozen shoulder syndrome (FSS) causes pain and reduces the range of motion in the shoulder joint. To investigate the short and medium-term effects of electroacupuncture in people with FSS, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of true and sham electroacupuncture on pain relief and improvement of shoulder function.MethodsIn this randomized, single-blind controlled clinical trial, 21 subjects with FSS were randomly assigned to two groups: a true electroacupuncture group (TEAG) and a sham electroacupuncture group (SEAG). The two groups underwent 18 sessions of treatment over approximately 6-9 weeks and were then followed up at 1, 3, and 6 months. Their effectiveness for alleviating the intensity of shoulder pain was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS), while improved shoulder mobility was evaluated by the active range of motion (AROM) and passive range of motion (PROM), and shoulder functional ability was evaluated using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI).ResultsIt demonstrated that the TEAG or SEAG showed lasting effects at 1, 3, and 6 months, although with no significant difference between these two groups in the shoulder functional ability outcomes. However, the decline in the VAS occurred earlier in the TEAG than the SEAG. Also, there was much more improvement in AROM for flexion and abduction in the TEAG than the SEAG. An increase in the abduction angle after electroacupuncture and manual rehabilitation was also apparent.ConclusionThese results suggest that electroacupuncture plus rehabilitation may provide earlier pain relief for patients with FSS and could be applied clinically.Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.

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