Pulsed ultrasound treatment of the painful shoulder a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

To study the effect of pulsed ultrasound in shoulder pains, 35 patients were treated with pulsed ultrasound and 37 patients with placebo ultrasound in a double-blind design. The therapy was given during inpatient rehabilitation, 10-12 treatments over 3-4 weeks. Treatment time was 10 minutes, frequency 1.0mHz, on-off ratio 1:4 and intensity 1.0w/cm2. Follow-ups were done after 4-12 months. No differences (p < 0.05) in outcomes were found between the groups after the treatment period or at follow-ups. These results discourage the adding of pulsed ultrasound therapy with the variables used to the conservative treatment of the painful shoulder.