Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2026
Clinical Efficacy of Small Needle Knife Therapy on Stage I-II Frozen Shoulder
Published on: November 17, 2023
Myofascial Release Techniques as an Adjunct Treatment in Individuals With Frozen Shoulder: A Systematic Review
Farnaz Farshchi1, Mahzad Farshchi2, Mobina Choobkar3
1Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran.
Background And Aim:
Frozen shoulder is characterized by pain and progressive restriction of shoulder range of motion (ROM), leading to functional limitations. Myofascial release (MFR) techniques are commonly used in clinical practice, mainly as an adjunct to conventional physiotherapy, yet their effectiveness in frozen shoulder remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of MFR, primarily as an adjunct intervention, on pain, functional disability, and shoulder ROM in individuals with frozen shoulder.
Methods:
A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar, ProQuest, and Web of Science up to November 2025. Eligible studies investigated the effects of MFR in individuals with frozen shoulder. Pain, functional disability, and shoulder ROM were extracted as primary outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using a modified Downs and Black checklist.
Results:
Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Participants (n = 383) were aged between 22 and 70 years across studies. Only 3 of 11 trials explicitly reported clinical stage or stage-related descriptors; most trials did not specify the freezing/frozen/thawing stage. The methodological quality of the included studies ranged from moderate to high, with no studies classified as having low methodological quality. Most studies applied MFR as an adjunct to conventional physiotherapy, while a smaller number used MFR as a stand-alone intervention. Adjunct MFR to conventional therapy generally demonstrated greater improvements in pain, functional disability, and shoulder ROM (most commonly abduction and external rotation) compared with conventional therapy alone or pre-intervention values.
Conclusion:
Interventions incorporating MFR appear to be beneficial in reducing pain, improving functional ability, and increasing shoulder ROM in individuals with frozen shoulder, particularly when used as an adjunct to conventional physiotherapy or exercise programs. Evidence for stand-alone MFR is limited, as the majority of available studies have implemented MFR in combination with other treatments.
