Introduction: Adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder syndrome is a common condition that affects the shoulder joint, characterized by stiffness and pain in the shoulder. Both the active and the passive range of motion are limited, especially with external rotation and abduction of the shoulder joint. All of these symptoms affect the individual’s daily activities and quality of life. Frozen shoulder affects 3 % to 5 % of the general population, women are more likely to develop it. Physiotherapy is the most common source of treatment for patients with frozen shoulder. Different forms of physiotherapy are used to treat frozen shoulder, such as manual therapy. Purpose: The purpose of this diploma work was to determine the effects of manual therapy in patients with frozen shoulder. Methods: In this diploma work we used a descriptive method with a systematic literature review. Literature was gathered using PubMed and PEDro. The search was limited to articles issued after 2015. We selected seven articles in English, published between 2015 and 2020 which analyzed the effectiveness of manual therapy in patients with frozen shoulder. Results: A variety of different techniques of manual therapy are known to have a positive effect on reducing symptoms of patients with frozen shoulder. Joint mobilization, mobilization of the scapula, manual stretch of the joint capsule, other concepts of different authors and the combination of them, contribute to reducing the pain, improving the range of motion and function of the arm and consequently improving the quality of life. Discussion and conclusion: The results of the examined articles have shown that different types of manual therapy techniques are an effective part of treating patients with frozen shoulder. Further research is required for better understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of the frozen shoulder as this contributes to choosing the best treatment and the success of said treatment. Further research is also required to compare different techniques of manual therapy and to determine which one is the most effective in its treatment.
|