The integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine and their clinical effects have been widely evaluated. Many studies have shown that using a combination of these two remedies has resulted in better outcomes than using only one of them. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique, which plays an important role in enforcing
pain control, prevention and functional improvement. In 1979, the World Health Organization (WHO) journal introduced acupuncture as a remedy for 43 diseases, including
frozen shoulder. This study aims to assess the therapeutic outcomes of combining acupuncture and
physical therapy to treat
frozen shoulder, and hopes to establish an evidence-based study of the integration of acupuncture and western medicine in the future. A total of 75
frozen shoulder patients treated in a medical center were recruited for the study between January 2002 and December 2002. The average age of these patients was 54.8 years. The average duration of the condition was 25.8 weeks before treatment. Of the 75 patients, 30 were treated by
physical therapy, 30 by acupuncture and 15 by both remedies. Before the treatment began, all patients were evaluated by assessing static
pain scale, motion
pain scale, active and passive ROM (range of motion) and quality of life scale sheet SF-36 (Short Form-36). The outcome was evaluated by follow-up assessments conducted at the 2nd week and 4th week of treatment sessions. All patients showed improvement in quality of life (Short Form-36).
Pain was controlled better by acupuncture while ROM improved following
physical therapy. However, patients treated by both methods had the best outcome. The integration of acupuncture and
physical therapy to treat
frozen shoulder leads to a better outcome than using only one method. The author suggests that an evidence-based foundation of the integration of Chinese and Western medicine should be established in the future, to encourage the integration of Chinese and Western medicine.