We are writing in response to the article published on November 9 entitled "Why wait years to sort out your pain?" to advise readers that the article provides misleading information for those with the diagnosis of frozen shoulder and may lead them to make inappropriate choices for their treatment.
The writer claims that a recent research study at Addenbrookes Hospital demonstrates that the technique used is highly effective and a superior treatment to physiotherapy in reducing pain and restoring mobility and strength.
The research has not yet been published in a full peer-reviewed journal. We are sure that readers appreciate the importance of research being published once it has been accepted by a suitably qualified peer group.
This is to ensure that the quality of the outcome is based on the structure of the study, the number of subjects, and the outcomes for the control group who have received more conventional approaches, are well founded and warrant the claims of superiority over current approaches.
The article describes the alternative treatment used as physiotherapy. Readers will be aware that physiotherapy is a generic term used in the same way as the terms "medicine" or "surgery". There is nothing in the article to determine what is meant by physiotherapy as the comparison for these claims.
Many people with painful shoulders have a diagnosis of "frozen shoulder" whether this is appropriate or not.
The current evidence base for the treatment of this condition when correctly diagnosed may include the use of exercise and manual techniques at the appropriate stage of recovery.
This new technique is described as "hands on" in the article and is thus another form of manual therapy.
Therefore, the hard evidence for making the assertion of superiority of this technique needs substantiating.
By bringing this to readers' attention we hope that they will bear these points in mind when considering their treatment options for this often painful and incapacitating condition.
The Out-patient Physiotherapy Service St George's Hospital Tooting
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