When it comes to treating a new or existing health condition, we are almost always in favor of proactive treatment. Far more often than not, proactive treatment does more good for your body than rest or watchful waiting, but that’s not true for every single health condition. According to a new report, watchful waiting may actually be the best form of treatment for one specific shoulder condition.
A study by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recently decided to take a closer look at the best way to treat adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder. Adhesive capsulitis is a condition we’ve written about on the blog in the past, and it is characterized by pain, stiffness and limited range of motion in the shoulder. It is caused by inflammation of the flexible tissues that surround the shoulder joint and it can take weeks, months or years for this inflammation to resolve and for a patient to regain normal flexibility in their shoulder. Some providers recommend watchful waiting, hoping that the frozen shoulder will “thaw” on its own, while others try to get the shoulder used to uncomfortable movements through physical therapy, hoping this boosts circulation and aid in inflammation reduction.
Frozen Shoulder Study
For the study, researchers conducted a small study involving 61 patients dealing with frozen shoulder. 31 patients were classified into the watchful waiting group, while 30 patients pursued physical therapy for treatment. Patients had their functional outcomes assessed at six weeks, three months, six months and one year.
After looking at the study results, researchers came to an interesting conclusion. They found:
- Patients in the watchful waiting and PT groups improved significantly at each measured interval.
- There were no significant differences between watchful waiting and physical therapy treatments at any point in time.
- Patients in the physical therapy group incurred an average of 10 times higher costs than those in the watchful waiting group.
Based on the findings, researchers believe that some patients may be better cared for by doing nothing other than practicing healthy lifestyle choices while they wait for their frozen shoulder to resolve on its own. Of course, this is only one small study, but it certainly seems to suggest that some patients may be better off by avoiding costlier treatment techniques that may not provide much of a benefit over watchful waiting.
Now, before you just assume that doing nothing is what’s best for your shoulder, we advise you to consult with a shoulder specialist who can see your shoulder in person. Each case of frozen shoulder is different, and what works for some may not be right for you. It’s encouraging that you may be able to avoid additional expenses related to your shoulder injury, but since proactive treatment is almost always better than doing nothing, it’s in your best interest to work with a shoulder specialist to devise an individualized treatment plan that’s right for you. To develop one of those plans or to talk with a specialist about a shoulder issue you’re dealing with, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
