Effect of Cyriax Deep Friction Massage Versus Cryotherapy in Stage 1 & 2 of Adhesive Capsulitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Adhesive capsulitis is one of the common pathologies of the Shoulder. The prevalence of adhesive capsulitis is estimated to be 2% to 5% of the general population. Several treatment techniques are existing for the improvement of adhesive capsulitis and Cyriax deep friction massage is a technique designed to improve adhesive capsulitis.

Objective: To compare between the effects of Cyriax deep friction massage and conventional physical therapy with Cryotherapy and conventional physical therapy in stage 1 &2 of adhesive capsulitis.

Methods/ Design: The study is a randomized controlled trial which included 34 subjects of the age group 40-85 years and were randomly assigned into two groups: group A (n=17) and group B (n=17). The Group A was given Cyriax deep friction massage with conventional physical therapy while group B was given Cryotherapy therapy with conventional physical therapy. Outcome measure were taken at baseline, and then taken on last day of sixth session by using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Range of Motion (ROM), and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). The treatment was given for 6 sessions over a period of two weeks.

Results: Group A showed greater improvement after 2 weeks of intervention with a statistical significance value for SPADI, VAS and ROM.

Conclusion: Cyriax deep friction massage with conventional physical therapy has significant effect on pain, range of motion and functional activity in patients with adhesive capsulitis.

Trial registration: prospectively registered in the clinical trial registry-India in the registration number of CTRI/2019/09/021375.