Passive, physical modalities (e.g tape, ultrasound, shockwave, low level laser) are commonly used to treat musculoskeletal conditions, with minimal evidence to support their use. The current systematic review examines the various passive modalities and their effectiveness in treating shoulder pain.
The authors found that passive modalities are generally ineffective in treating shoulder pain. However, there is some evidence that low-level laser therapy is more effective than placebo or ultrasound for SAI. Shockwave is more effective than sham therapy for calcific tendonitis.
> From: Yu et al., Phys Ther 95 (2015-04-22 10:38:07) 306-318 . All rights reserved to American Physical Therapy Assocation. Click here for the online summary.