Ultrasound therapy (US): medians and interquartile ranges for baseline scores and for changes in scores since baseline and median differences between groups with 95% confidence intervals
| Active US (n=73) | Dummy US (n=72) | No US (n=35) | Active dummy US D (95%CI) | No dummy US D (95%CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief complaint* † | |||||
| baseline | 73 (55–84) | 75 (59–90) | 70 (52–79) | ||
| 6 weeks | 22 (2–55) | 22 (1–44) | 27 (2–42) | −3 (−12, 6) | −4 (−15, 7) |
| 3 months | 31 (14–61) | 41 (16–62) | 35 (20–57) | 3 (−6, 15) | 3 (−2, 16) |
| Functional status† ‡ | |||||
| baseline | 69 (56–81) | 75 (63–87) | 75 (63–87) | ||
| 6 weeks | 11 (0–31) | 7 (−3–20) | 9 (−6–38) | −6 (−13, 2) | −2 (−13, 7) |
| 3 months | 23 (0–47) | 15 (0–51) | 18 (7–45) | −3 (−13, 7) | −4 (−16, 7) |
| 6 months | 36 (6–52) | 25 (−3–50) | 10 (−8–60) | −3 (−16, 9) | 3 (−13, 21) |
| 9 months | 33 (1–56) | 38 (9–60) | 24 (−3–56) | 2 (−10, 14) | 7 (−9, 23) |
| 12 months | 38 (8–63) | 49 (25–65) | 30 (−11–44) | 9 (−2, 20) | 23 ( 7, 39) |
| Pain after assessment* † | |||||
| baseline | 34 (8–52) | 48 (22–65) | 33 (13–61) | ||
| 6 weeks | 9 (0–32) | 7 (0–31) | 7 (−1–28) | −1 (−6, 5) | 3 (−4, 12) |
| 3 months | 11 (0–35) | 14 (2–39) | 11 (0–28) | 2 (−5, 9) | 4 (−4, 15) |
| Pain yesterday* † | |||||
| baseline | 46 (25–55) | 51 (31–67) | 46 (32–61) | ||
| 6 weeks | 12 (0–32) | 13 (1–34) | 13 (2–21) | 1 (−7, 8) | 1 (−7, 10) |
| baseline | 44 (20–71) | 48 (20–72) | 49 (24–65) | ||
| 6 weeks | 12 (0–49) | 15 (0–30) | 15 (1–29) | −4 (−14, 4) | −1 (−10, 8) |
| 3 months | 25 (1–51) | 19 (1–45) | 18 (9–53) | −2 (−12, 8) | −3 (−14, 7) |
| Physical impairment* † | |||||
| baseline | 49 (19–67) | 49 (20–77) | 43 (26–65) | ||
| 6 weeks | 15 (0–29) | 13 (1–30) | 11 (0–23) | 0 (−6, 6) | 1 (−7, 9) |
| 3 months | 20 (2–39) | 22 (4–39) | 19 (4–34) | 1 (−7, 9) | 2 (−7, 13) |
| Symptom score† § | |||||
| baseline | 49 (27–60) | 47 (32–65) | 50 (31–67) | ||
| 6 weeks | 18 (4–34) | 13 (4–37) | 21 (10–29) | −2 (−10, 7) | −2 (−12, 8) |
| 3 months | 23 (8–40) | 23 (8–42) | 27 (14–32) | 0 (−7, 9) | 0 (−8, 10) |
| Mobility † | |||||
| baseline | 44 (17–68) | 39 (19–64) | 44 (27–75) | ||
| 6 weeks | 9 (1–30) | 10 (−4–32) | 14 (2–30) | −1 (−7, 8) | −1 (−12, 10) |
| 3 months | 13 (1–37) | 12 (1–38) | 15 (3–32) | 1 (−8, 7) | 0 (−10, 10) |
D=differences between groups; negative values denote a difference in favour of the dummy treatment. Negative values for median change scores and interquartile ranges denote deterioration. Negative values for differences between groups (D) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) denote a difference in favour of the dummy group.*Patient rating for severity during the previous week on a 100 millimetre visual analogue scale (0/100: best/worst). The chief complaint was logged at baseline, and was defined as an unavoidable painful and/or impaired functioneal activity in which the shoulder is involved. Physical impairment was defined as restriction of functional activities.†Rating of research physiotherapist on a 100 millimetre visual analogue scale (0/100: best/worst), based on a standardised assessment of active mobility: (1) glenohumeral-scapulo-thoracic rhythm; reaching with the index finger to (2) the heterolateral scapular angulus inferior and (3) the second thoracic processus spinosus; (4) flexion and (5) abduction. ‡Patient rating for severity of disorder specific functional status limitation during the past 24 hours on the 16 item Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (0/100: best/worst). §Severity rating of research physiotherapist on a 100 millimetre visual analogue scale (0/100: best/worst), based on a standardised clinical assessment. This assessment involved a standardised history; inspection of contour, muscle wasting and swelling; active and passive evaluation of range of motion and pain on abduction, flexion, internal and external rotation, extension and adduction; evaluation of the functional mobility and active glenohumeral-scapulo-thoracic rhythm; evaluation of joint play and pain on accessory movements; evaluation of muscle weakness and pain on isometric muscle testing; and palpatory assessment of pain and tissue condition.