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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Jul;28(3):146-158.
doi: 10.1080/10669817.2019.1622896. Epub 2019 Jun 14.

Dynamic scapular recognition exercise improves scapular upward rotation and shoulder pain and disability in patients with adhesive capsulitis: a randomized controlled trial

Ayman A Mohamed  1   2 , Yih-Kuen Jan  1 , Wadida H El Sayed  3 , Mohamed E Abdel Wanis  4 , Abeer A Yamany  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Dynamic scapular recognition exercise improves scapular upward rotation and shoulder pain and disability in patients with adhesive capsulitis: a randomized controlled trial

Ayman A Mohamed et al. J Man Manip Ther. 2020 Jul.

Erratum in

  • Correction.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] J Man Manip Ther. 2020 Jul;28(3):159. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2020.1764269. Epub 2020 Jun 10. J Man Manip Ther. 2020. PMID: 32520656 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

Background: Examine the ability of a dynamic scapular recognition exercise to improve scapular upward rotation and decrease shoulder pain and disability in patients with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.

Methods: A test-retest randomized controlled study design was used. A total of sixty-six patients with unilateral adhesive capsulitis were equally divided into two groups. The study group received a dynamic scapular recognition exercise using a wireless biofeedback system, while the control group received placebo treatment in the form of active range-of-motion (ROM) exercises of the sound upper limb. A digital inclinometer was used to measure the scapular upward rotation and ROM of the shoulder joint, and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) was used to measure the shoulder pain and disability.

Results: Study results showed that after two weeks, there were statistically significant differences between the study and control groups in scapular upward rotation and shoulder flexion and abduction (P < .05) and nonsignificant differences in shoulder external rotation and SPADI (P > .05). After two and six months, there were statistically significant differences between study and control groups in scapular upward rotation; shoulder flexion, abduction and external rotation; and SPADI scores (P < .05).

Conclusion: This study showed that a dynamic scapular recognition exercise significantly improves scapular upward rotation and the ROM of shoulder flexion and abduction after two weeks. At two and six months, this exercise improves scapular upward rotation; ROM of shoulder flexion, abduction, and external rotation; and SPADI scores. These improvements persisted for six months after the performance of this exercise.

Keywords: Adhesive capsulitis; dynamic scapular recognition; scapular upward rotation; shoulder pain and disability.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Figures

Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Comparison between improvements in the scapular upward rotation, shoulder ROM and SPADI in the study and control groups after the performance of scapular dynamic recognition exercise. 1S: the improvement in the scapular upward rotation in the study group, 1C: the improvement in the scapular upward rotation in the control group, 2S: the improvement in the shoulder flexion in the study group, 2C: the improvement in the shoulder flexion in the control group, 3S: the improvement in the shoulder abduction in the study group, 3C: the improvement in the shoulder abduction in the control group, 4S: the improvement in the shoulder external rotation in the study group, 4C: the improvement in the shoulder external rotation in the control group, 5S: the improvement in the SPADI in the study group and 5C: the improvement in the SPADI in the control group.
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Patients flow chart.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Repeated measure ANOVA between the baseline measurements and after two weeks, two months and six months (follow up) for the scapular upward rotation. *: significant (p < .05).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Repeated measure ANOVA between the baseline measurements and after two weeks, two months and six months (follow up) for the shoulder ROM. *: significant (p < .05).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Repeated measure ANOVA between the baseline measurements and after two weeks, two months and six months (follow up) for the shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI). *: significant (p < .05).
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Repeated measure ANOVA between the study and control groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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