The Effect of Manual Physical Therapy on Improvement in the Range of Motion of Frozen Shoulder Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Cases in South Korea

Korea Purpose: The main purpose of this meta-analysis was to identify the degree of effect size and variables for the impact of manual physical therapy on the improvement in the range of motion of frozen shoulder patients. Methods: This study collected 8 studies published between 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2020. The analysis of the results verified 49 effect size data and the random effect model was chosen. Results: First, the full case showed the largest mean effect size of 2.485 (p<0.001). Second, the size of the effect based on manual therapy and modality therapy showed an effect size of 4.178 (p<0.001). Third, the outcome group included 6 variables. The external rotation (2.818) variable group showed the largest mean effect size, followed by internal rotation (2.748), flexion (2.643), abduction (2.356), and adduction (2.356). Six outcomes were significant and the mean effect sizes of all the varied groups were above large size. The number of participants showed a 20 or less effect size of 2.478 (p>0.737). The number of intervention periods showed 4 weeks 20 or more effect size of 2.782 (p>0.294). Finally, the ‘Trim and Fill’ result confirmed that the calibration effect size was 1.471 (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study verified that manual physical therapy had a substantial effect on the improvement of the range of motion of patients with frozen shoulders and that the effects were dependent on the methods of