Effects of phonophoresis with acetic acid in the treatment of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: case report

Abstract

Background: The calcific tendinitis of the shoulder is a dysfunction conservatively treated by shock waves, iontophoresis, and phonophoresis, associated or not with the use of acetic acid. Objective: To check the effects of phonophoresis with acetic acid in the treatment of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder in resorption stage. Methods: Measurements of ROM, muscle strength and functionality of the shoulder (SPADI) were made pre and post-physiotherapeutic treatment. The treatment protocol consisted of 10 sessions of therapeutic ultrasound with acetic acid (frequency = 3 MHz; intensity = 1.4 W/cm2; pulsed mode of 1:4), for 10 minutes, 3 times a week. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software (20.0), through the Student’s t-test (paired) considering a significance level of 5%. Results: There was significant improvement regarding the ROM, muscle strength and functionality of the right shoulder (SPADI) comparing pre vs. post-treatment (P<0.01). In addition, there were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05), in the comparison between the shoulders (right X left) in the post-treatment. Conclusion: According to the results of this case study, the protocol used (10 sessions of therapeutic ultrasound + 5% acetic acid) was effective in the treatment of calcific tendinitis of shoulder, improving the ROM, muscle strength and functional capacity, in addition to eliminating the pain of the shoulder affected.