Comparison of capsular stretching and passive joint mobilisation in idiopathic adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: A randomised controlled trial.

Study Summary

38 patients with stage-II idiopathic adhesive capsulitis were randomized to receive Maitland passive joint mobilisation or capsular stretching. Outcomes of interest included shoulder range of motion, pain measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and disability measured using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after 12 treatment sessions delivered over 4 weeks. Overall, the results of the study revealed that both treatments significantly improved shoulder range of motion, pain, and disability. However, Maitland mobilisation produced greater improvements in flexion, extension, abduction, and SPADI scores, whereas capsular stretching produced greater improvement in internal rotation; external rotation improved similarly between groups. These findings suggested that both interventions were beneficial, although Maitland mobilisation provided greater improvement across most functional outcomes.