Ultrasound... yes? no?

Okay, before you grab the ultrasound machine.. before you squirt the gel... before you reach for that ultrasound head... ask yourself why?

Why are you choosing to use ultrasound for someone with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder?

a)  The deep heating properties of ultrasound will increase the extensibility of the joint capsule.
b)  You learned in your graduate or post-graduate program about modalities; ultrasound to the axillary fossa was deemed an acceptable intervention in your classroom scenarios.
c)  Everyone else uses it.
d)  You need to maintain your productivity units.
e)  You just want to sit down, have a break and chat with your patient as you move the magic wand.
f)  You really don't care about your patient and want to really jinx the likelihood of a favorable outcome.

You could have many potential reasons for using ultrasound. 

You have two excellent reasons not to choose ultrasound.  The hard cold facts seem to indicate ultrasound reduces the odds of improvement in function.  The cold hard facts seem to indicate ultrasound reduces the odds of improvement in pain.

Outcome evidence suggests joint mobilization and exercise as interventions of choice for shoulder adhesive capsulitis to increase the likelihood of favorable outcomes in physical function and bodily pain.  Interesting work done by  Dianne Jewell, Daniel Riddle, and Leroy Thacker. 

For some, it might be time to break tradition.

~Selena