• Onur Kıvılcım Korkmaz, Kazım Capaci, Can Eyigor, and Sibel Eyigor.
• Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
• Clin Rehabil. 2010 Nov 1;24(11):1000-8.

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of pulse radiofrequency applied to the suprascapular nerve with the efficacy of conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation treatment in patients with shoulder pain.DesignA randomized, controlled trial.SettingAn outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic.SubjectsForty patients with shoulder pain lasting at least three months were included in the study. Subjects were randomly allocated into either a pulsed radiofrequency treatment or a conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation treatment. All patients received exercise therapy.Main MeasurementsOutcome measurements were performed using the visual analogue scale for pain and range of motion; the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index was used for disability; and the Short Form-36 was used to establish quality of life. All of the measurements were assessed at four points in time (before the intervention, and for 1, 4 and 12 weeks afterwards).ResultsWhen the groups were compared, no significant difference was found between the groups in terms of visual analogue scale, range of motion, the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (except for the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index total score), Short Form-36 subscores, and paracetamol consumption for all weeks (P >0.05).ConclusionOur results showed that there is no difference in effect between transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and pulsed radiofrequency treatment for shoulder pain.

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