Frozen Shoulder: How Shockwave Therapy Can Speed Up Recovery

Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterised by pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion in the shoulder. Recovery can be slow and challenging, but shockwave therapy (extracorporeal shockwave therapy, ESWT) has shown positive results to speed up healing and improve function.

How Shockwave Therapy Helps Frozen Shoulder

• Pain Reduction: ESWT provides significant pain relief by stimulating hyperstimulation analgesia, reducing inflammation, and promoting tissue healing.

• Improved Range of Motion: The therapy increases the extensibility of collagen fibres and reduces thickening in the shoulder’s coracohumeral ligament—a key factor in frozen shoulder stiffness—leading to enhanced shoulder mobility.

• Accelerated Healing: By promoting neovascularisation (growth of new blood vessels) and anti-inflammatory effects, ESWT speeds recovery and tissue remodelling.

• Better Function: Patients often experience improved functional capacity and faster return to daily activities with ESWT.

• Safety and Convenience: ESWT is non-invasive, low cost, does not require hospitalisation, and has minimal adverse effects.

Evidence Highlights

• A randomized clinical trial showed that patients receiving ESWT once weekly for 4 weeks had significantly reduced pain and disability and improved shoulder flexion, extension, abduction, and external rotation compared to controls.

• Another study combining ESWT with intra-articular lidocaine injections and progressive resistance exercises found notable improvements not just in pain and motion but also in psychological factors like the fear of movement and depression.

• ESWT has potential as an adjunct therapy alongside conventional treatments like corticosteroid injections and physical therapy, especially during different stages of frozen shoulder.

Shockwave therapy is a safe and effective treatment that can significantly speed up recovery from frozen shoulder by alleviating pain, reducing tissue stiffness, and enhancing shoulder mobility. It works well as part of a multimodal rehabilitation plan including exercises and other therapies.

For best results and personalised care, patients should consult with healthcare professionals experienced in ESWT and frozen shoulder management.