Acupuncture for Treatment of Frozen Shoulder Syndrome
Acupuncture for Treatment of Frozen Shoulder Syndrome
Disability of upper limbs due to neurologic and orthopedic disorder or injuries is commonly
 seen clinically. For example paralysis or paresis of upper limb due to stroke is relatively
 prevalent, and it may result in severe muscle weakness, pain, contracture, spasticity and
 disability. These patients need early and regular rehabilitation to regain their function and
 prevent unnecessary complications such as contracture and disuse atrophy. Proper
 rehabilitation is important but the challenge is also great. However, rehabilitation training
 is a very labor-intensive task in which one to one treatment is essential and that will
 restrict the number of patients served. Moreover, patients receiving home programs are
 difficult to supervise, resulting in reduced training effect and delayed functional recovery.
 In order to reduce related cost (including time, personnel, facilities, and expense, etc.) of
 rehabilitation in hospitals or clinics, this Robot research team had developed a prototype of
 upper-limb exoskeleton rehabilitation robot and its related technology and human-robot
 interaction. This robot is used to serve the rehabilitation need of those patients suffering
 from upper extremities dysfunctions and also can provide careful designed therapeutic program
 of upper limbs including shoulder and elbow joint exercises. Its control software also
 provides a therapeutic management system with intelligence and ergonomic consideration. This
 work was funded by National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) since 2008 and has applied for
 both the U.S. and Taiwan (ROC) patents, where the latter has been approved in Nov. 2011. The
 clinical trial was firstly approved by Research Ethics Committee B of NTUH in 2009 and
 finally approved by Department of Health (DOH) in April 2011. This team had completed the
 clinical trial for healthy subjects and pre-clinical trial for stroke patients. Based upon
 this experience an innovative and intelligent SMART Robot Rehabilitation System for Frozen
 Shoulder Syndrome is proposed to prove its safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness.
In the first year, the robot was under construction and was not involved in the clinical
 trial.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Age from 20 to 65 years old

 2. Diagnosis as adhesive capsulitis

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. History of humeral fracture or trauma event around shoulder girdle

 2. Central nervous system disease

 3. Shockwave or injection therapy at shoulder joint in past 6 months

 4. History or planning for operation at shoulder girdle

 Subject within our criteria will receive both examination with ultrasound and treatment,
 however, there is some limitations for subjects who will be approved examination at
 shoulder girdle with magnetic resonance imaging:

 1. Claustrophobia

 2. Metal implant (Pacemaker, artificial valve prosthesis, implantable cardioverter
 defibrillator, nerve stimulator, in vivo drugs delivery system, intraocular implant,
 cochlear implants, Swan-Ganz catheter, arterial clips, bullets or metal fragments)

 3. Renal insufficiency (Estimated creatinine clearance < 90 mL/min)

 4. Pregnancy and breast milk feeding