Background:Chronic shoulder pain resulting from rotator cuff pathology is a prevalent degenerativecondition, particularly among the elderly population. It is commonly associated withtendinosis, partial to near-complete tendon tears, and degenerative joint changes. Conventionaltreatment approaches include analgesic therapy, physiotherapy, and surgical intervention inadvanced cases. From an Ayurvedic perspective, this condition can be correlated withAvabahuka, a Vata-predominant disorder affecting the shoulder joint. Shalya Tantra provideseffective para-surgical measures such as Agnikarma for its management.Case Presentation:A 62-year-old female presented with persistent pain in the right shoulder along with restrictedmobility for the past one year. The onset was gradual and progressively worsened, significantlyimpairing her daily activities. MRI findings indicated supraspinatus tendinosis with a near fullthickness tear, along with tendinosis of the subscapularis and infraspinatus, minimal jointeffusion, degenerative labral tear, acromioclavicular joint arthrosis, subacromial bursitis, andbiceps tendinosis.Treatment Protocol:The patient was treated with a comprehensive Ayurvedic regimen focusing on Shalya Tantrainterventions. Local Abhyanga with medicated oils followed by Swedana was administered toalleviate stiffness. Agnikarma was performed at the point of maximal tenderness to achieveprompt pain relief and address chronic tendon pathology. This was complemented by UpanahaSweda to reduce inflammation. Internal administration of Vatahara and Shothaharaformulations was given. Additionally, gradual physiotherapy and shoulder mobilizationexercises were incorporated to improve functional recovery.Results and Conclusion:The intervention resulted in marked reduction in pain, improved range of motion, and betterfunctional capacity. This case highlights the effectiveness of a multimodal Ayurvedicapproach, particularly Agnikarma, in managing chronic rotator cuff disorders. It suggests thatsuch interventions can serve as a safe, economical, and non-invasive alternative to conventionaltreatment strategies.
vaidya et al. (Mon,) studied this question.