Effectiveness of Focal Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Idiopathic Frozen Shoulder at 12‐Month Follow‐Up
7 affiliations
- 1CKF Di Giorno Excellence Medical Centre 40121 Bologna Italy
- 2Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery “Mater Domini” University Hospital “Magna Græcia” University V.le Europa 88100 Catanzaro Italy unicz.it
- 3Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery “Giovanni Paolo II” Hospital V.le Arturo Perugini 88046 Lamezia Terme Italy
- 4Research Center on Musculoskeletal Health, MusculoSkeletal Health@UMG Magna Graecia University 88100 Catanzaro Italy unicz.it
- 5Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Policlinico di Modena University of Modena and Reggio Emilia 41124 Modena Italy unimore.it
- 6Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology “Policlinico Tor Vergata” Foundation 00133 Rome Italy
- 7Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics Sciences Sapienza University of Rome 00185 Rome Italy uniroma1.it
Abstract
The optimal treatment for frozen shoulder remains a subject of debate, within the orthopedic and rehabilitative communities, primarily due to the complexity of the pathology and the lack of consensus on therapeutic protocols, which range from conservative physical therapy to invasive surgical intervention. In this clinical landscape, noninvasive modalities have gained considerable traction for their potential to accelerate functional recovery and alleviate debilitating pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 12‐month long‐term results of focal extracorporeal shockwave therapy (f‐ESWT) in the treatment of idiopathic frozen shoulder. We prospectively collected data from 77 patients (42 females, 35 males; mean age: 57 years) suffering from idiopathic frozen shoulder between January 2021 and September 2022. The median number of f‐ESWT sessions performed was 6 (range: 2–10). Forty‐three patients received f‐ESWT treatment within 3 months of symptom onset. Patients were assessed at baseline, at the end of treatment, and at 2‐, 6‐, and 12‐month follow‐up intervals using the Constant–Murley Score (CMS), the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). A statistically significant improvement of CMS and reduction of DASH and VAS were observed from the baseline values to posttreatment evaluations (p < 0.001). Serial measurements revealed a bimodal trend of clinical improvements: a significant statistical difference from baseline values to both the end of the treatment and at the 2‐month follow‐up, followed by a clinical plateau up to a final, statistically significant improvement at the 12‐month follow‐up. Patients who initiated f‐ESWT within 3 months of symptom onset, as well as those who underwent fewer than seven sessions, exhibited significantly lower DASH values at the 2‐month follow‐up (p = 0.013). In conclusion, satisfactory clinical outcomes of f‐ESWT for idiopathic frozen shoulder can be expected at 12 months, particularly for patients starting treatment early (within 3 months of onset) and receiving fewer than seven sessions.
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BibTeX
@article{giorno2026effectiveness,
title = {{Effectiveness of Focal Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Idiopathic Frozen Shoulder at 12‐Month Follow‐Up}},
author = {Alfonso Di Giorno and Giovanni Carlisi and Valentina Sanzo and Giorgio Gasparini and Fabio Catani and Giuseppe Porcellini and Salvatore Maria Tecce and Stefano Gumina and Michele Mercurio},
journal = {Advances in Orthopedics},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1155/aort/9822934},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1155/aort/9822934},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effectiveness of Focal Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Idiopathic Frozen Shoulder at 12‐Month Follow‐Up
AU - Alfonso Di Giorno
AU - Giovanni Carlisi
AU - Valentina Sanzo
AU - Giorgio Gasparini
AU - Fabio Catani
AU - Giuseppe Porcellini
AU - Salvatore Maria Tecce
AU - Stefano Gumina
AU - Michele Mercurio
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/01
JO - Advances in Orthopedics
DO - 10.1155/aort/9822934
UR - https://doi.org/10.1155/aort/9822934
AB - The optimal treatment for frozen shoulder remains a subject of debate, within the orthopedic and rehabilitative communities, primarily due to the complexity of the pathology and the lack of consensus on therapeutic protocols, which range from conservative physical therapy to invasive surgical intervention. In this clinical landscape, noninvasive modalities have gained considerable traction for their potential to accelerate functional recovery and alleviate debilitating pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 12‐month long‐term results of focal extracorporeal shockwave therapy (f‐ESWT) in the treatment of idiopathic frozen shoulder. We prospectively collected data from 77 patients (42 females, 35 males; mean age: 57 years) suffering from idiopathic frozen shoulder between January 2021 and September 2022. The median number of f‐ESWT sessions performed was 6 (range: 2–10). Forty‐three patients received f‐ESWT treatment within 3 months of symptom onset. Patients were assessed at baseline, at the end of treatment, and at 2‐, 6‐, and 12‐month follow‐up intervals using the Constant–Murley Score (CMS), the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). A statistically significant improvement of CMS and reduction of DASH and VAS were observed from the baseline values to posttreatment evaluations (p < 0.001). Serial measurements revealed a bimodal trend of clinical improvements: a significant statistical difference from baseline values to both the end of the treatment and at the 2‐month follow‐up, followed by a clinical plateau up to a final, statistically significant improvement at the 12‐month follow‐up. Patients who initiated f‐ESWT within 3 months of symptom onset, as well as those who underwent fewer than seven sessions, exhibited significantly lower DASH values at the 2‐month follow‐up (p = 0.013). In conclusion, satisfactory clinical outcomes of f‐ESWT for idiopathic frozen shoulder can be expected at 12 months, particularly for patients starting treatment early (within 3 months of onset) and receiving fewer than seven sessions.
SN - 2090-3464
SN - 2090-3472
ER -