The effect of manual therapy and exercise for adhesive capsulitis: A structured literature review
Item
- Title
- The effect of manual therapy and exercise for adhesive capsulitis: A structured literature review
- Author(s)
- Park, S
- Abstract
- Background Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is a common shoulder disorder and characterised by pain and restricted movement of the glenohumeral joint. Although, AC is described as a self-limiting condition with natural resolution, the symptoms might last up to 10 years. Despite the underlying pathophysiology being poorly understood, manual therapy and exercise are commonly used to treat AC in physical therapy. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of manual therapy alone or in combination with exercise on shoulder range of motion (ROM) and pain for AC. The final aim of this study was to provide an update of current research by analysing trials published after 2013, subsequent to the most recent Cochrane review (Page et al. 2014). Design This study designed as a structured literature review. Methods The databases were searched to identify the relevant studies for the years 2013-2019. Extracted characteristics and outcomes of trials were assessed with methodological quality assessment using PEDro and Cochrane’s risk of bias (ROB). The mean differences of outcome measures in between groups were calculated to compare the effects of interventions across trials. Results 20 trials were identified and reviewed, and the mean PEDro score was shown ‘good quality’. 15 trials were rated at low risk in Cochrane’s ROB and 5 trials were rated unclear ROB. None of the trials were high ROB. All trials captured pain and range of motion of shoulder in AC. Discussion Evidence of good quality revealed that a combination of manual therapy and exercise (CME) was of benefit to treat AC. However, the heterogeneity of intervention and outcome measures limit interpretation of the findings of results. Although there was no investigation into long-term and cost effectiveness, a positive trend was shown in terms of pain relief and low ROB compared to the Cochrane review (Page et al. 2014). Conclusion CME may have benefits in terms of reducing pain and increasing ROM in the short term. However, without assessment of long-term effects and reporting adverse effect, it is difficult to inform the use of CME as a primary care tool in actual practice. As this review found the effect of CME inconclusive of the effect of the CME, further research is essential in order to improve clinical decision making for practitioner and patients.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2020
- Date Submitted
- 28.10.2020 18:08:19
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 16681
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Frozen shoulder, Adhesive capsulitis, manual therapy, exercise, pain, range of motion
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Park, S, “The effect of manual therapy and exercise for adhesive capsulitis: A structured literature review”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 4, 2025, https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/174