Physiotherapists’ practice patterns for the diagnosis and management of patients with chronic contracted frozen shoulder in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Background Adhesive capsulitis or contracted shoulder, known as frozen shoulder, is a persistent painful condition that may last for more than three months. It is a common disease-causing morbidity that causes pain and loss of shoulder range of motion. Physical therapy is advocated for the restoration of a pain-free state and normal use of the upper extremity, along with other interventions. Purpose This study aimed to explore the level of current clinical practice for managing chronic contracted frozen shoulder (CCFS) among physiotherapy professionals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) compared to well–established evidence-based practices, and to identify the most common therapy practiced in UAE to manage CCFS. Method This study was based on a cross-sectional quantitative analysis using an adapted questionnaire. The main themes of questions were the presence of a special interest in CCFS, management options, symptoms, diagnosis, referral, and best physiotherapy intervention recommendations. The results were analyzed using simple descriptive analyses, such as frequency, mean, and percentage of total responses; additionally, thematic and content analyses were performed for open-ended questions. Results Overall, 101 physiotherapy professionals participated in the survey: 62% female and 38% male; 59% were bachelors- and 36% masters-degree holders, respectively. In the closed ended question regarding the interest in CCFS, male physiotherapists (PTs) were more interested than females (82% vs. 68%). For the most common indication of CCFS, 76% of the participants selected “Limitation of movement" as the main indication. However, only 42% confirmed the presence of clinical protocols in their employment setting. In their opinion, the most effective therapies were patient education, superficial heat or cold, manual joint mobilization, and sustained stretching exercises. Conclusion A well-established professional competence exists among physiotherapists in the UAE to manage and treat patients with CCFS. The findings showed sufficient standard, theoretical, and practical knowledge among the study groups.