Treatment of shoulder complaints in general practice: long term results of a randomised, single blind study comparing physiotherapy, manipulation, and corticosteroid injection

While steroid injections may be superior to physical therapy for the
treatment of shoulder complaints, it seems clear that the benefits of both
are short lived.

At the recent Tenth International Montreux Congress on
Stress, other approaches to this problem were presented that should be
considered. For example, Pulsed Signal Therapy was found to be effective
for the treatment of osteoarthritis in well over eighty percent of
patients in double blind and randomized trials in over 25,000 subjects.
In traumatic shoulder injuries, the success rate approaches ninety
percent. This non invasive treatment consists of nine one hour sessions,
and long term follow-up reveals that complete pain relief persists for a
year or longer. Since there are no adverse side effects, treatment is
extremely cost effective since it avoids the need for chronic NSAID’s and
other pain medications often associated with gastrointestinal bleeding and
other complications that may necessitate hospitalization. Pulsed Signal
Therapy is based on solid scientific basic research that began three
decades ago, and was administered to some 30,000 patients last year in
over a dozen countries. That number is expected to increase to 60,000 this
year, because of its ability to relieve pain, restore normal range of
motion, high safety profile, and sustained benefits. Other magnetotherapy
approaches presented at this Congress also promise to become part of
mainstream medicine in the millennium for the treatment of pain,
depression, anxiety, insomnia, and other stress related disorders. (see
www.stress.org)

Paul J. Rosch, M.D., F.A.C.P.

President, The American Institute of Stress

Clinical Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry

New York Medical College

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Competing interests: none declared