Painful stiffening of the shoulder, 'frozen shoulder' is a common cause of 
shoulder pain and disability. Continuous passive motion (CPM) is an established 
method of preventing joint stiffness and of overcoming it. A randomized, 
comparative prospective clinical trial was planned to compare the early response 
with different rehabilitation methods [CPM vs. conventional physiotherapy 
treatment (CPT) protocol] for adhesive capsulitis taking into consideration the 
clinical efficacy. A total of 57 patients with frozen shoulder were included in 
this study. Patients were assigned randomly to receive daily CPM treatments or 
CPT protocol. Parameters were measured at baseline, and at weeks 4 and 12. All 
patients were evaluated with respect to pain (visual anologue scale) at rest, 
pain at movement, pain at night, measurement of range of motion (shoulder 
flexion, abduction, internal-external rotation were assessed), constant 
functional shoulder score and the shoulder pain and disability index. The first 
group (n=29) (CPM group) received CPM treatments for 1 h once a day for 20 days 
during a period of 4 weeks. The second group (n=28) (CPT group) had a daily 
physiotherapy treatment protocol including active stretching and pendulum 
exercises for 1 h once a day for 20 days during a period of 4 weeks. All 
patients in both groups were also instructed in a standardized home exercise 
programme consisting of passive range of motion and pendulum exercises to be 
performed every day. In both groups, statistically significant improvements were 
detected in all outcome measures compared with baseline. Pain reduction, 
however, evaluated with respect to pain at rest, at movement and at night was 
better in CPM group. In addition the CPM group showed better shoulder pain index 
scores than the CPT group. CPM treatment provides better response in pain 
reduction than the conventional physiotherapy treatment protocol in the early 
phase of treatment in adhesive capsulitis.