Effects of Pectoralis Minor Exercises on Shoulder Pain, Scapular Dyskinesis and Thoracic Expansion in Adhesive Capsulitis Patients

NCT07283016 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: UBAS/ERB/FoRS/25/030
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 70
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The goal of the current study is to evaluate the effects of pectoralis minor stretching and strengthening with mobility and stability exercises in patients aged 40-70 years with adhesive capsulitis. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the combination of pectoralis minor stretching and strengthening with mobility and stability exercises significantly reduce shoulder pain compared to mobility and stability exercises only? Does the combination of pectoralis minor stretching and strengthening with mobility and stability exercises improve scapular dyskinesis (scapular movement patterns) and thoracic expansion more effectively than mobility and stability exercises? Participants will be assigned to either an experimental group receiving pectoralis minor stretching and strengthening exercises with mobility and stability exercises or a control group receiving mobility and stability exercises only, and will complete standardized assessments of shoulder pain, scapular dyskinesis (scapular movement patterns) and thoracic expansion before and after the intervention.

Conditions

Adhesive Capsulitis

Keywords

Strengthening exercises; Scapular dyskinesis; Shoulder Pain; Thoracic Expansion; Pectoralis minor

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Shoulder Pain

  Shoulder pain intensity is assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale functions as a basic method to examine pain severity. It is a unidimensional measure where participants rate their pain on an 11-point scale. The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 represents "no pain" and 10 represents "worst pain imaginable". The assessment tool is available through spoken language or visual presentation, enabling smooth clinical application. Participants select the number that best represents their current level of discomfort, with higher scores indicating greater levels of pain intensity.

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Scapular Dyskinesis

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6

• Thoracic expansion

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6

Study Arms (2)

Experimental Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Pectoralis Minor Stretching and Strengthening with Mobility and Stability Exercises

Other: Pectoralis Minor Stretching and Strengthening with Mobility and Stability exercises

Control group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Mobility and Stability Exercises

Other: Mobility and Stability exercises

Interventions

Mobility and Stability exercises OTHER

Participants in the control group will receive a standardized physical therapy protocol commonly used for adhesive capsulitis management over a period of 6 weeks. This will include mobility and stability exercises. Mobility Exercises are passive range-of-motion exercises combined with joint mobilization techniques such as pendulum exercises, wall crawls, and towel stretches (3 sets of 10 repetitions of each exercise, performed 4 days a week for 6 weeks). Stability Exercises are isometric rotator cuff exercises performed (3 sets of 10 repetitions of each exercise, performed 4 days a week for 6 weeks). This basic treatment approach aims to reduce pain, improve joint mobility, and support gradual recovery in adhesive capsulitis without specifically targeting the pectoralis minor.

Control group

Pectoralis Minor Stretching and Strengthening with Mobility and Stability exercises OTHER

Participants in this group will follow a 6 week program targeting the Pectoralis Minor exercises in addition to mobility and stability exercises as explained in the control group used for adhesive capsulitis management. Pectoralis minor exercises include pectoralis minor stretching and strengthening. Pectoralis minor stretching exercises are unilateral corner and foam roller stretches (4 repetitions × 30 seconds hold, with a 30-second rest, performed 4 days a week for 6 weeks) to improve chest mobility. Pectoralis minor strengthening exercises are scapular push-ups (protraction-focused), scapular protraction with resistance bands, and wall slides with scapular protraction (3 sets × 10 repetitions, performed 4 days a week for 6 weeks) to boost muscle strength and support proper scapular movement. These interventions aim to reduce shoulder pain, improve scapular function, and enhance chest compliance in patients with adhesive capsulitis.

Experimental Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age: 40 - 70 years
• Gender: Both Male \& Female
• Clinical diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis (Thawing stage).
• Reduced thoracic expansion.
• Scapular dyskinesis

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of rotator cuff tear, labral tears, or glenohumeral arthritis confirmed through imaging
• Post-stroke hemiparesis,
• Winged scapula due to lesions of long thoracic nerve or spinal accessory nerve.
• Rotator cuff repair
• Capsular release
• Arthroplasty

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Bursitis; Shoulder Pain

Interventions

Range of Motion, Articular

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Arthralgia; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Physical Examination; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• MUHAMMAD TARIQ RAFIQ

  Lahore University of Biological & Applied Sciences

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Muhammad Hamza Mushtaq, DPT

CONTACT

+923078161298; ubs24lmspt026@ubas.edu.pk

MUHAMMAD TARIQ RAFIQ, PhD

CONTACT

tariq.rafiq@ubas.edu.pk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 24, 2025
• First Posted: December 15, 2025
• Study Start: December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2026
• Study Completion: March 1, 2026
• Last Updated: December 15, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, CSR
• Time Frame: After completion of the study until the time of 5 years.