THE IMPACT OF SCAPULAR MOBILIZATION ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ROM EXERCISES IN PATIENTS WITH ADHESIVE CAPSULITIS

Abstract

Objective: Adhesive capsulitis is a condition characterized by shoulder pain and limited motion. It primarily affects women and can be secondary or idiopathic. Risk factors include diabetes, rotator cuff impairment, and cardiovascular disease. Nevasier first identified the pathology and differentiated it from periarthritis.

Methods: Adhesive capsulitis has a prevalence of 2-5% in the general population of India, with the highest occurrence in the mid-50s. A study reported an annual incidence of shoulder pain of 14.7 per 1000 individuals and a lifetime prevalence of up to 70%. The exact cause of adhesive capsulitis is uncertain, but it is associated with systemic disorders and underlying conditions such as trauma, avascular necrosis, osteoarthritis, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and rheumatoid arthritis. Other clinical diseases, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and age between 40 and 65 are also linked to the condition.

Results: Our study provides showed in Group A, consisting of 9 males and 6 females, and Group B consisting of 8 males and 7 females. Overall, the study group comprised 17 males and 13 females. Additionally, the analysis of pre-test and post-test values of SPADI and VAS scores revealed significant improvements in Group A, with a significant decrease in SPADI scores from 70.0 to 41.73 (p = 0.037). However, the decrease in VAS scores from 5.8 to 3.2 was not statistically significant (p = 0.35). In Group B, although there were reductions in both SPADI and VAS scores, the changes were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Adhesive capsulitis is a common condition characterized by shoulder pain and limited motion. It primarily affects women and can be secondary or idiopathic. The exact cause is unknown, but it is associated with systemic disorders and underlying conditions. Diagnosis is clinical, with imaging used for additional information. Treatment includes oral NSAIDs, steroid injections, and physiotherapy. Scapular mobilization techniques may improve outcomes. Further research, such as randomized controlled trials, is needed to evaluate their effectiveness.