Efficacy of Transcutaneous Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment in Subacromial Impingement Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Study

This study assessed Transcutaneous Pulse Radiofrequency Therapy's (TCPRF) effectiveness in reducing shoulder pain and improving shoulder function. A double-blind randomized controlled trial involved 50 SAIS patients with chronic shoulder pain. Participants were randomized into two groups: the study group (n = 27) received TCPRF, while the control (n = 23) received sham treatment. The primary outcome was shoulder pain, secondary outcomes, including shoulder function, quality of life, and range of motion, were assessed at baseline, and at 1, 4, and 12 weeks using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and the SF-36 questionnaire. Supraspinatus tendon thickness (SSPT) and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) were measured by ultrasound. Both groups showed reductions in activity and resting pain over 12 weeks. In the control, activity pain dropped from a median (IQR) of 8 (7-8) to 6 (3-7), and in TCPRF from 8 (7-10) to 3.5 (2-6.3), with no significant difference at 12 weeks ( = 0.192). Resting pain decreased from 3 (1-6) to 1 (1-3) in the control, and from 3 (2-4) to 0 (0-2) in TCPRF, showing a lower resting pain at 12 weeks ( = 0.041). SPADI-Total scores decreased from 87 (54-105) to 50 (29-82) in the control and from 84 (69-107) to 21 (9-66.3) in TCPRF, favoring TCPRF at 12 weeks ( = 0.017). SPADI-Disability scores reduced from 49 (30-63) to 30 (15-30) in control and from 47 (35-62) to 11 (5.8-38.8) in TCPRF, also favoring TCPRF ( = 0.008). Both groups showed similar improvements in other outcomes. TCPRF reduced resting pain and shoulder disability in SAIS over 12 weeks, though other outcomes showed similar improvement in both groups. Further studies are needed to determine long-term effects.