The Effectiveness of Therapeutic Ultrasound in the Treatment of Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder

The Effectiveness of 4500 Joule Therapeutic Ultrasound in the Treatment of Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder

Rotator cuff tendinitis (RCT) has a prevalence between 2.7 and 22%, and predominantly affects middle-aged women. The pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated to date. RCT is characterized by hydroxyapatite crystal deposition in the rotator cuff tendons. Approximately half of the patients with RCT have pain with acute or chronic shoulder mobility limitation. In some patients, RCT shows a tendency for spontaneous and rapid regression.

Diagnostic ultrasound (D-US) is a non-invasive, non-ionizing, and relatively inexpensive diagnostic imaging method that is safe and reliable in assessing rotator cuff pathology. It is very sensitive in the identification of calcifications that are shown in grayscale (B-mode) as hyperechoic structures with or without acoustic shadow. Based on ultrasound findings, Chiou HJ et al. have classified calcifications into 4 types: type I are arcuate, type II are fragmented or punctiform, type III are nodular, and type IV are cystic. Spontaneous resorption may occur with type III and IV calcifications. A positive Doppler signal (PD) surrounding the calcification is highly correlated with pain intensity.

According to the European Union of Medical Specialists-Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (UEMS-PRM) guidelines, the basis of RCT therapy is individual medical gymnastics (IMG). It includes exercises aimed to restore full shoulder mobility, and improve rotator cuff and scapular stabilizer muscles strength. Other passive procedures are elective in the choice of treatment.

Ultrasound therapy is often used in the treatment of musculoskeletal shoulder pathology due to its thermal and non-thermal effects. It is considered that tissue heating stimulates healing (vasodilation, acceleration of the metabolism, and improvement of the viscoelastic properties of the connective tissue). The frequency of ultrasound therapy is selected depending on the desired depth of action (3 MHz for surface structures up to 2.5 cm depth, and 1 MHz for deeper structures, up to 5 cm depth). Pulse mode is commonly used in acute, while continuous in chronic conditions.

To date, only a few studies have evaluated the reduction in calcification size after ultrasound therapy. Although ultrasound therapy is routinely used in the treatment of painful shoulder, reviewing the results of research published so far, we can say that current knowledge about the effectiveness of ultrasound therapy in RCT is inconsistent (only several studies with a small number of subjects, different parameters of applied ultrasound therapy in terms of penetration depth, applied energy and duration of treatment). This indicates the need for further research.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Shoulder Pain; Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Sonopuls 490u, Enraf-Nonius, Rotterdam, Kingdom of the Netherlands; Other: Placebo

Detailed Description

The research will be conducted in the Clinic for Rheumatic Diseases and Rehabilitation, University Hospital Center Zagreb. The research will be a double-blind randomized control prospective study. Randomization of patients will be performed before the intervention in the R software package and the results of the randomization will be known only to the therapist who will be involved in the treatment. The respondent and the examiner (doctor) will not be aware of in which group the patient is enrolled. All respondents will sign an informed consent before the study begins. Research has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb and the Ethics Committee of the School of Medicine, University of Zagreb.

The minimum sample size of a total of 42 subjects (21 in each group) was estimated according to the following characteristics: type 1 error (α = 0.05), power (1-β = 0.8) and effect size [(effect size) 0.2], with the expected use of two - way analysis of variance with two independent groups and two repeated measurements (2x2 ANOVA) with an estimated minimum correlation between repeated measurements r = 0.6.

Inclusion criteria are symptomatic RCT (VAS pain ≥ 4 + limited shoulder mobility) with D-US calcification size ≥ 5 mm, calcification type I and II according to Chiou HJ et al., and disease duration ≥ 2 months. Exclusion criteria are asymptomatic RCT or RCT with mild symptoms (VAS pain ≤ 3+ normal shoulder mobility), calcification size <5 mm, type III and IV calcification according to Chiou HJ et al., duration symptoms less than 2 months, rotator cuff tendon rupture, adhesive capsulitis, application of corticosteroids in the examined shoulder in the previous 3 months, glucocorticoid therapy, physical shoulder therapy in the previous 6 months, shock wave therapy in the previous 12 months, prior percutaneous calcification irrigation, current cervical or cervicobrachial pain syndrome, inflammatory rheumatic disease, scapular dyskinesia with positive assisted and repository scapular test, subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis, recent trauma or malignancy in malignant disease.

During the study, respondents will be able to relieve pain with paracetamol and/or tramadol. Respondents will keep a diary of analgesia, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cryo massage will not be allowed due to their anti-inflammatory effect.

The investigators will record age, sex, dominant arm, height, body weight, body mass index, cigarette smoking, medications, physical activity (sports), and profession. Clinical examination will be performed on the first day and the last day of the therapy.

Ultrasound therapy (Sonopuls 490u, Enraf-Nonius, Rotterdam, Kingdom of the Netherlands) will be used with continuous output, frequency 1 MHz, intensity 1.5 W / cm2 and duration 10 min per treatment, on the front of the shoulder, on the surface of 2 ultrasound heads (10 cm2), with the position of the arm in adduction and internal rotation in RCT of the supraspinatus, adduction and external rotation of the arm in RCT of the subscapularis and the position of the arm over the opposite shoulder in RCT of the infraspinatus. Sham ultrasound therapy will be applied in the same way as ultrasound therapy, using a frequency of 0 Hz, intensity 0 W / cm2, 10 min per treatment. All respondents will conduct IMG that includes: unloading pendular exercises if strength exercises cannot be started immediately, shoulder range exercises, and rotator cuff and scapula stabilizer exercises for 30 minutes per treatment. The physiotherapist will apply ultrasound therapy and sham ultrasound therapy by slow circular motions through a neutral gel and perform IMG.

The respondent and the researcher will not know in which group the subject was randomized. The first group will receive ultrasound therapy and IMG, and the second sham ultrasound therapy and identical IMG for four weeks (5 therapies per week, a total of 20 therapies). The researcher will perform a standardized ultrasound examination of the shoulder of all respondents immediately before and immediately after the therapeutic intervention, measuring the size of the calcification. Another examiner will make an independent measurement of the calcification size. The final measure will take the average value of the two. The researcher will record a positive PD in the tendon around the calcification (on a scale of 0-3), assess the severity of shoulder pain at rest, at night and when moving using a visual analog scale of pain (VAS-pain; 0-10), measure passive and active shoulder mobility (goniometer in degrees), rotator cuff muscle strength (manual muscle test; 0-5), handgrip strength (hydraulic dynamometer in kg) and assess functional status using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)). All respondents will be assessed the overall satisfaction of the therapeutic intervention using a five-point Likert scale.

The primary outcome of the study will be the change in calcification size measured by D-US before and after the intervention, while other outcome parameters are: reduction of pain, an increase of shoulder mobility, improvement of functional status, and overall satisfaction with rehabilitation.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 42
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Stjepan Čota, MD; Phone Number: +385917683917; Email: stjepancota@yahoo.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Nadica Laktašić Žerjavić, Assist. Prof.; Email: nadica_laktasic@yahoo.com

Study Locations

• Croatia
  • Grad Zagreb
    • Zagreb, Grad Zagreb, Croatia, 10000
      • Recruiting
      • University Department for Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagre

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• symptomatic RCT (VAS pain ≥ 4 + limited shoulder mobility) with D-ultrasound calcification size ≥ 5 mm
• calcification type I and II according to Chiou HJ et al.
• disease duration ≥ 2 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• asymptomatic RCT or RCT with mild symptoms (VAS pain ≤ 3 + normal shoulder mobility)
• calcification size < 5 mm, type III and IV calcification according to Chiou HJ et al.
• duration symptoms less than 2 months
• rotator cuff tendon rupture
• adhesive capsulitis
• application of corticosteroids in the examined shoulder in the previous 3 months
• glucocorticoid therapy
• physical shoulder therapy in the previous 6 months
• shock wave therapy in the previous 12 months
• prior percutaneous calcification irrigation
• current cervical or cervicobrachial pain syndrome
• inflammatory rheumatic disease
• scapular dyskinesia with positive assisted and repository scapular test
• subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis
• recent trauma or malignancy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Active Group; This group will receive ultrasound therapy. Respondents will conduct individual medical-gymnastics: unloading pendular exercises if strength exercises cannot be started immediately, shoulder range exercises, and rotator cuff and scapula stabilizer exercises for 30 minutes per treatment.	Device: Sonopuls 490u, Enraf-Nonius, Rotterdam, Kingdom of the Netherlands; Ultrasound therapy will be applied in continuous output, 1 MHz frequency, the intensity of 1.5 W / cm2, and duration 10 min per treatment, on the front of the shoulder, on the surface of 2 ultrasound heads (10 cm2). The position of the arm will be in adduction and internal rotation in RCT of the supraspinatus, adduction and external rotation of the arm in RCT of the subscapularis, and the position of the arm over the opposite shoulder in RCT of the infraspinatus.
Sham Comparator: Control Group; This group will receive sham ultrasound therapy. Respondents will conduct the same individual medical-gymnastics, as in the active group: unloading pendular exercises if strength exercises cannot be started immediately, shoulder range exercises, and rotator cuff and scapula stabilizer exercises for 30 minutes per treatment.	Other: Placebo; Sham ultrasound therapy will be applied using a frequency of 0 Hz, intensity 0 W / cm2, 10 min per treatment. The position of the arm will be in adduction and internal rotation in RCT of the supraspinatus, adduction and external rotation of the arm in RCT of the subscapularis, and the position of the arm over the opposite shoulder in RCT of the infraspinatus.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The change in calcification size measured by D-ultrasound before and after the intervention.	The researcher will perform an ultrasound examination of the shoulder immediately before and immediately after the therapeutic intervention. The size of the calcification will be measured according to the standard size measurement protocol, and another examiner will make an independent measurement. The final measure will take the average value of the two.	4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To compare the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound in combination with individual medical gymnastics with the effectiveness of individual medical gymnastics in reducing pain.	The severity of shoulder pain will be assessed at rest, at night, and when moving using a visual analog scale of pain (VAS-pain; 0-10).	4 weeks
To compare the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound in combination with individual medical gymnastics with the effectiveness of individual medical gymnastics on increasing shoulder mobility.	Passive and active shoulder mobility will be measured with a goniometer.	4 weeks
To compare the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound in combination with individual medical gymnastics with the effectiveness of individual medical gymnastics on improving the functional status of the shoulder.	The functional status will be assessed using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). SPADI consists of two dimensions, one for pain and the other for functional activities. The pain scale is summed up to a total of 50, while the disability scale is summed up to 80. The means of the two subscales are averaged to produce a total score ranging from 0 (the best) to 100 (the worst, more disability). The total SPADI score is expressed as a percentage.	4 weeks
To compare the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound in combination with individual medical gymnastics with the effectiveness of individual medical gymnastics on the overall satisfaction with the outcome of rehabilitation.	All respondents will be assessed the overall satisfaction of the therapeutic intervention using a five-point Likert scale (ranging from 1 to 5, 1 - completely dissatisfied, 2 - mostly dissatisfied, 3 - neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 4 - mostly satisfied, 5 - fully satisfied).	4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Chiou HJ, Chou YH, Wu JJ, Hsu CC, Huang DY, Chang CY. Evaluation of calcific tendonitis of the rotator cuff: role of color Doppler ultrasonography. J Ultrasound Med. 2002 Mar;21(3):289-95; quiz 296-7.
• Varela E, Valero R, Küçükdeveci AA, Oral A, Ilieva E, Berteanu M, Christodoulou N; UEMS-PRM Section Professional Practice Committee. Shoulder pain management. The role of physical and rehabilitation medicine physicians. The European perspective based on the best evidence. A paper by the UEMS-PRM Section Professional Practice Committee. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2013 Oct;49(5):743-51.
• Alexander LD, Gilman DR, Brown DR, Brown JL, Houghton PE. Exposure to low amounts of ultrasound energy does not improve soft tissue shoulder pathology: a systematic review. Phys Ther. 2010 Jan;90(1):14-25. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20080272. Epub 2009 Nov 12.
• Ebenbichler GR, Erdogmus CB, Resch KL, Funovics MA, Kainberger F, Barisani G, Aringer M, Nicolakis P, Wiesinger GF, Baghestanian M, Preisinger E, Fialka-Moser V. Ultrasound therapy for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. N Engl J Med. 1999 May 20;340(20):1533-8.
• Williams JW Jr, Holleman DR Jr, Simel DL. Measuring shoulder function with the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. J Rheumatol. 1995 Apr;22(4):727-32.
• Philadelphia Panel. Philadelphia Panel evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on selected rehabilitation interventions for shoulder pain. Phys Ther. 2001 Oct;81(10):1719-30. Review.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): April 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): April 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Anticipated): January 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 26, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 26, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): March 30, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 1, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 29, 2021
• Last Verified: March 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: rehabilitation; ultrasound therapy; kinesiotherapy; diagnostic ultrasound
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Wounds and Injuries; Joint Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Rupture; Shoulder Injuries; Tendon Injuries; Arthralgia; Rotator Cuff Injuries; Tendinopathy; Shoulder Pain; Musculoskeletal Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: UHC Zagreb

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No