Case report shows significant improvements in shoulder mobility and pain in a diabetic female after targeted physiotherapy interventions.
BACKGROUND: Shoulder dysfunctions like rotator cuff tears, labral injuries, and adhesive capsulitis are common in individuals with diabetes due to capsular fibrosis and inflammation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 55-year-old female with diabetes presented to physical therapy with chronic left shoulder pain, reduced shoulder mobility, decreased strength, and stiffness following a fall. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed a partial supraspinatus tear, labral tear, ligament injuries, AC joint arthritis, and adhesive capsulitis. OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP: After a six-week physiotherapy program combining Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive (TECAR) therapy, Mulligan mobilization, strengthening, and patient education, her shoulder flexion improved from 75° to 170°, external rotation from 10° to 80°, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score reduced from 68.4 to 24.2. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) reduced from 8/10 to 3/10. DISCUSSION: This case demonstrates that individualised, multimodal physiotherapy can restore function in complex diabetic shoulder cases. Combining manual therapy, progressive exercise, and modality-based interventions significantly improves mobility, reduces pain, and enhances quality of life in patients with multiple shoulder disorders.
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Mundada et al. (2026) studied this question.
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