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Adhesive Capsulitis of the ShoulderNCT07403409

Scapular Repeated Contractions Facilitation Versus Hold-relax Techniques in Patients With Adhesive Capsulitis

A study testing Repeated Contraction Facilitation Technique, Hold-Relax Technique and Conventional Physical therapy Treatment for Adhesive Capsulitis in people with Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The study was conducted to determine the effects of scapular repeated contractions facilitation versus hold-relax techniques on pain, range of motion and functional disability in patients with adhesive capsulitis Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 40 to 60 years
Conditions the study is for
Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder
What is being tested?
Repeated Contraction Facilitation Technique, Hold-Relax Technique and Conventional Physical therapy Treatment for Adhesive Capsulitis
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
66 participants
Where
1 sitePakistan
Study dates
18 Jan 2025to 30 Oct 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 40 to 60 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Diagnosed stage 2 of Adhesive Capsulitis (>4-12 months)
  • Difficulties in 2 or more movements: external rotation, abduction, flexion or internal rotation presenting limitation of more than 30 degrees
  • Patients having diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus type 2
  • Capsular pattern of restriction
  • Unilateral involvement of the shoulder
  • Patients who are not taking any pain killer

Who cannot join

  • Surgical history of affected shoulder
  • History of trauma or fracture in affected shoulder
  • Cervical neuropathy or any other disorders of cervical spine, elbow and wrist
  • Any Neurological disorders such as stroke or parkinsonism
  • Any systemic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and malignancies in shoulder region
  • Intra-articular injection
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Open wound or skin infection
  • Manipulation under anesthesia
  • Recurrent dislocation or subluxation
  • Shoulder injuries such as rotator cuff tear, or tendon calcification

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Pakistan1 site

  • Rasool Medical Complex Gujrat

    Dhok Gujra, Punjab Province, 50700

Other trials in Pakistan

About this study

Official title: Effects of Scapular Repeated Contractions Facilitation Versus Hold-relax Techniques on Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Disability in Patients With Adhesive Capsulitis

The study was conducted to determine the effects of scapular repeated contractions facilitation versus hold-relax techniques on pain, range of motion and functional disability in patients with adhesive capsulitis

Being tested
Repeated Contraction Facilitation Technique, Hold-Relax Technique, Conventional Physical therapy Treatment for Adhesive Capsulitis
Keywords
Adhesive Capsulitis, Scapula Repeated Contraction Facilitation Technique, scapular Hold-Relax Technique, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
Medical subject headings
Bursitis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Repeated Contraction Facilitation TechniqueOther

    Repeated contraction facilitation on scapula in two diagonal patterns (D1\&D2) were performed .D1 consisted of anterior elevation and posterior depression and D2 consisted of posterior elevation and anterior depression. Isotonic contraction of muscles against the resistance throughout the active ROM was performed.3 sets of 10 repetitions were performed with 20 seconds of rest interval.

  • Hold-Relax TechniqueOther

    Hold -Relax on scapula in two diagonal patterns (D1\&D2) were performed .D1 consisted of anterior elevation and posterior depression and D2 consisted of posterior elevation and anterior depression in which restricted muscles were contracted isometrically with 5 sec hold followed by relaxation into new range .3 sets of 10 repetitions were performed with 20 seconds of rest interval.

  • Conventional Physical therapy Treatment for Adhesive CapsulitisOther

    Moist heat pack for 15-20 mins Therapeutic Ultrasound at 1MHz for 8-10 mins in continuous mode with the intensity of 1.5W/cm2 Active Assisted Shoulder for abduction, flexion, internal rotation and external rotation with 3 sets of 15 repetitions 4days/week for 4 weeks Wall slides, Finger ladder exercises, Wand exercises and home exercises were performed.3x15 repetitions with 2 min rest interval for 4 sessions per week for four weeks for each exercise Maitland Glenohumeral Joint Mobilization with 2-3 oscillations per second for 30 seconds for 5 sets 4 times a week in caudal and posteroanterior direction was applied for 4 weeks.

Study groups in NCT07403409
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Scapular Repeated Contraction Facilitation TechniqueExperimentalNot described
Receives: Other: Repeated Contraction Facilitation Technique; Other: Conventional Physical therapy Treatment for Adhesive Capsulitis
Scapular Hold-Relax TechniqueActive comparatorNot described
Receives: Other: Hold-Relax Technique; Other: Conventional Physical therapy Treatment for Adhesive Capsulitis

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Numeric Pain Rating Scale

    Patient level of pain was assessed using this scale. This scale ranges from 0 to 10. 0 indicates "no pain" ,1- 3 indicates mild pain ,4-6 indicates moderate pain and 7-10 indicates "worst pain". NPRS have shown high test-retest reliability (r = 0.96 and 0.95, respectively) MCID value of NPRS is 2-3

    Measured: At base line and end of 4 weeks

  2. Shoulder Pain And Disability Index

    SPADI was used to assess functional disability. It has 13 items, with 5 items for pain and 8 items for disability

    Measured: from baseline to end of 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes (4)

  1. ROM shoulder flexion

    changes from baseline ROM of shoulder flexion was taken

    Measured: 4th week

  2. ROM shoulder abduction

    changes from baseline ROM of shoulder was taken

    Measured: 4th week

  3. ROM shoulder external rotation

    changes from baseline ROM of shoulder external rotation was taken

    Measured: 4th week

  4. ROM shoulder internal rotation

    changes from baseline ROM of shoulder internal rotation was taken

    Measured: 4th week

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 Feb 2026
  2. Study start18 Jan 2025
  3. Primary completion31 May 2025
  4. Study completion30 Oct 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
66 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07403409
Sponsor's protocol ID
REC/RCR & AHS/24/0196
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
4 Feb 2026
Last updated
11 Feb 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Joshi D, Chitra J. Effect of scapular proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on shoulder pain, range of motion, and upper extremity function in hemiplegic patients: A randomized controlled trial. Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU. 2017;10(3):276-82.

  • Chitra J, Joshi D. Effect of scapular hold-relax technique on shoulder pain in hemiplegic subjects: A randomized controlled trial. Physiotherapy-The Journal of Indian Association of Physiotherapists. 2017;11(2):49-52.

  • Mishra N, Mishra A, Charaniya P. Effect of scapular proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on pain and disability in patients with adhesive capsulitis. Int J Yogic Hum Mov Sports Sciences. 2019;4(1):995-1000.

  • Saeed M, Hafeez S, Asad F, Haider W, Nawaz S, Kocub S. Comparison of scapular proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and myofascial release techniques on pain and function in scapular dyskinesia associated with adhesive capsulitis: Scapular dyskinesia associated with adhesive capsulitis. Pakistan BioMedical Journal. 2022:123-7.

  • Bhavika PG, Vinosh Kumar P. Effect of Scapular Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation versus Scapular Mobilization on Pain and function in adhesive capsulitis-A Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial. INTI JOURNAL. 2023;2023(64):1-6.

  • Akgüller T, Akbaba YA, Taşkıran H. The effect of scapular proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques on pain and functionality in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Physikalische Medizin, Rehabilitationsmedizin, Kurortmedizin. 2023;33(03):149-61.

  • Shaikh SB, Ganvir SS. Effect of 4 Weeks of Scapular Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation on Scapular Alignment and Upper Extremity Motor Performance in Patients with Stroke: A Repeated Measure Design. Medical Journal of Dr DY Patil Vidyapeeth. 2023;16(Suppl 2):S228-S34.

  • Ragapriyaa R, Kamalakannan M, Anitha A, Ramana K. Effect of Scapular Clock Exercise Versus Scapular PNF Exercise on Pain and ROM for Anterior Capsular Stiffness of Shoulder Joint. Indian Journal of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy. 2024;18.

  • Cellatoglu H, Belgen Kaygisiz B. Effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) technique on posture, balance and gait characteristics of older adults with scapular dyskinesis: a randomized controlled trial. PeerJ. 2025 Aug 14;13:e19718. doi: 10.7717/peerj.19718. eCollection 2025.

    PubMed 40827206

  • Butt MS, Tanveer F. Effects of scapular proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques in addition to routine physical therapy on clinical outcomes in patients with adhesive capsulitis: A randomized controlled trial. The Healer Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences. 2022;2(1):78-87.

  • Ghias S, Saeed H, Ahmed M, Faisal M, Solangi TA, Asim HAB, et al. Effectiveness of PNF Pattern in Regular Physical Therapy Sessions on Functional Mobility in Frozen Shoulder: PNF Pattern in Frozen Shoulder Therapy. THE THERAPIST (Journal of Therapies & Rehabilitation Sciences). 2024:46-50.

  • Lin P, Yang M, Huang D, Lin H, Wang J, Zhong C, Guan L. Effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique on the treatment of frozen shoulder: a pilot randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022 Apr 20;23(1):367. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05327-4.

    PubMed 35443651

  • Zhang EJX, Lam YX, Lim WSR, Lie DTT. Effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on efficacy and pain relief for symptomatic shoulder conditions: a meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic Reports. 2025;4(1):100541.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Repeated Contraction Facilitation Technique, Hold-Relax Technique and Conventional Physical therapy Treatment for Adhesive Capsulitis in people with Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Numeric Pain Rating Scale (time frame: At base line and end of 4 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07403409, which also lists 13 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Feb 2026.

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