Neural Mobilization and Capsular Stretching in Adhesive Capsulitis

NCT07323225 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: RHPT/024/009
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Restriction of glenohumeral (GH) mobility in patients with adhesive capsulitis (AC) was known owing to capsular adhesion. There is a little evidence about the involvement of neural restriction in limiting range of motion (ROM) of the GH joint in patients with AC. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the combined effect of median nerve mobilization and capsular stretching on improving shoulder external rotation, abduction and internal rotation ROM among patients with AC. Methods Thirty patients will be randomly assigned into two equal groups : Group (A) will receive median nerve mobilization and capsular stretching while Group (B) will receive only capsular stretching (anterior, posterior and anteroinferior capsular stretching). Both groups will receive passive and self-assisted exercises. All patients in both groups will be evaluated pre and post treatment for GH external rotation, abduction and internal rotation ROM.

Conditions

Adhesive Capsulitis

Keywords

Adhesive capsulitis; neural mobilization; capsular stretch

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• pain intensity

  pain was assessed by VAS which has two ends. the left end indicates no pain where the right end indicates maximal pain

  4 Weeks

• central sensitization

  central sensitization will be assessed by the the arabic version of central sensitizatuion questionnaire. To understand CSI scores, the following severity categories have been established: subclinical = 0 to 29; mild = 30 to 39; moderate = 40 to 49; severe = 50 to 59; and extreme = 60 to 100

  4 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Neural mobilization group

EXPERIMENTAL

neural mobilization plus capsular stretching

Other: capsular stretching plus neural mobilization

Capsular stretching group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

capsular stretching

Other: anterior, inferior and posterior capsular stretching

Control group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

traditional execises

Other: traditional exercises

Interventions

anterior, inferior and posterior capsular stretching OTHER

anterior, inferior and posterior glenohumeral capsular stretching

Capsular stretching group

capsular stretching plus neural mobilization OTHER

anterior, posterior and inferior capsular stretching and neural mobilization

Neural mobilization group

traditional exercises OTHER

stretching exercises for anterior GH musculture plus auto passive exercises and pendulum exercises

Control 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:

• Patients from both gender (male \&female) will be included if they would have second or third stage AC with their age between forty and seventy years
• experiencing pain, capsular adhesions, and a reduction of greater than fifty percentage in passive ROM of the GH joint (external rotation, abduction, and internal rotation compared to the sound side
• lasting for a minimum of three months. Patients with positive upper limb tension test-1 will be also included in this study

You may not qualify if:

• they would have stroke,Parkinson's diseases that interfere with shoulder muscles activity
• diabetes
• traumatic shoulder conditions
• glenohumeral osteoarthritis confirmed by x-ray
• previous surgery, and manipulation of the affected GH joint under general anesthesia
• Patients with passive elbow extension ROM

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University

Al Kharj, 16242, Saudi Arabia

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Coppieters MW, Butler DS. Do 'sliders' slide and 'tensioners' tension? An analysis of neurodynamic techniques and considerations regarding their application. Man Ther. 2008 Jun;13(3):213-21. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2006.12.008. Epub 2007 Mar 30.

  PMID: 17398140 RESULT

• Martinez-Merinero P, Lluch E, Gallezo-Izquierdo T, Pecos-Martin D, Plaza-Manzano G, Nunez-Nagy S, Falla D. The influence of a depressed scapular alignment on upper limb neural tissue mechanosensitivity and local pressure pain sensitivity. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2017 Jun;29:60-65. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.03.001. Epub 2017 Mar 10.

  PMID: 28319883 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Bursitis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Mohammed Hegazy

CONTACT

00966566169893; mohamed.mostafa@pt.cu.edu.eg

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: assisstant professor , department of health and rehabilitation sciences, college of applied medical siences

Model Details: three groups

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 15, 2025
• First Posted: January 7, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2026
• Study Completion: April 10, 2026
• Last Updated: January 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SA (1)