Comparison of Spencer Technique and Gongs Mobilization in Patients With Phase ii Adhesive Capsulitis

Adhesive capsulitis is characterized by a painful, gradual loss of both active and passive glenohumeral motion resulting from progressive fibrosis and ultimate contracture of the glenohumeral joint capsule. The term "frozen shoulder" was first introduced by Codman in 1934. He described frozen shoulder as a painful shoulder condition of insidious onset that was associated with stiffness and difficulty in sleeping on the affected side. In the general population, the incidence of adhesive capsulitis is 2-5%, more in females, those aged 40-65 years and those suffering from diabetes mellitus. In Pakistan, its precise prevalence is unknown, but, in general, it ranges 2-5%.

An increased incidence of frozen shoulder has been noticed in patients with hyperthyroidism and hypertriglyceridemia. Frozen shoulder progressive through three clinical phases painful phase- severe pain usually worst at night and when lying on the affected side (2-9 months) are stiffening or frozen phase- difficulty with simple activities of daily living. Stiffness progresses and leads to disused atrophy (4-12 months) Thawing phase - gradual increase in range of motion and improvement in pain, although it may reappear as stiffness ceases (5-12 months). In pathological condition like adhesive capsulitis where there is presence of capsular pattern of glenohumeral joint, in such a condition it is not possible to achieve full abduction through elevation because of marked limitation of external rotation.

Adhesive capsulitis is primarily categorized into two types: primary and secondary. Primary or idiopathic adhesive capsulitis is characterized by a gradual onset of pain and stiffness at the gleno-humeral joint without a specific cause. Secondary adhesive capsulitis is known to be caused by several predisposing factors. Women are affected more than men with a ratio of 58:423. The spencer technique is developed by spencer D. O. in 1916. This approach is a well-known osteopathic manipulative technique that focuses on mobilization of the glenohumeral and scapulothoracic joints. It helps the restricted joints to improve their functions, as well as positively affects other emotional, social, and cognitive areas. Spencer technique is an articulatory technique with 6 different procedures used to treat shoulder restriction caused by adhesive capsulitis. In this technique passive, smooth, rhythmic motion is designed to stretch contracted muscles, ligaments and capsules.

Physiotherapy methods such as active and active assisted exercises, pendular exercises, wand exercises, wall and ladder exercises, capsular stretching exercises and shoulder joint mobilization are often standard exercises in treating frozen shoulder. Electrotherapy modalities such as application of ultrasound, short-wave diathermy and LASER are used to relieve pain and promote hyperthermic effect to tissues.

Joint Mobilization is a manual therapy that applies passive traction and gliding motion to the articular surface to maintain free mobility of joints or to restore the normal condition of joints . Gong's mobilization technique helps to heal physical pain as well as distract the mind from stress. It is a corrective antero-posterior glide applied for shoulder distraction and their restricted movements to decrease pain and to improve range of motion. According to Wontae gong, gong's mobilization is more effective for anterior to posterior glide to improve shoulder abduction, external and internal rotation. Joint mobilization technique is effective to reduce pain and improves range of motion.

Many treatments have been advocated for Adhesive capsulitis: rest, analgesia, active and passive mobilization, physical therapy, oral and injected corticosteroids, capsular distension, manipulation under anesthesia, and arthroscopic capsular release. Currently, there is no consensus as to which is the most effective treatment. Evidence is present to support the isolated use of spencer technique on pain in adhesive capsulitis and isolated effects of gongs mobilizations on pain and disability in phase II adhesive capsulitis, while this study will determine the additional clinical evidence regarding the comparison of spencer technique and gongs mobilization on pain, range of motion, disability, and scapular symmetry in patients with phase II adhesive capsulitis to provide a better treatment option.

Adhesive Capsulitis is a commonest musculoskeletal problem affecting middle-aged person characterized by shoulder pain that is aggravated by movements and limitation of range of shoulder motion and daily activities. Adhesive capsulitis, is an idiopathic disease characterized by fibrosis, decreased volume of the glenoid capsule, and progressive pain with loss of range of motion (ROM). Shoulder pain and stiffness are accompanied by severe disability.

Rajalaxmi.V, S. Vasanthi, S.Sathya conducted a study in 2021 on the efficacy of Dynamic exercise and closed kinematic exercise combined with stretching in adhesive capsulitis. In this study concluded that s both the groups showed improvement while the Group (dynamic exercise with stretching) is more effective in reducing pain and disability than the Group (closed kinematic exercise with stretching) in adhesive capsulitis.

Mushyyaida Iqbal and colleagues in 2020 conducted a study to compare the effects of Spencer muscle energy technique and passive stretching in adhesive capsulitis. Spencer's joint mobility and muscle energy technique was found to be more effective than passive stretching exercises to reduce pain, and to improve joint ROM and functionality in AC.

Samiksha Sathe, Sukhna Kaur Khurana and coworkers conducted a study in 2018. The aim of that study was to compare the effect of Maitland mobilization as an intervention to conventional physiotherapy in patients with adhesive capsulitis on pain, ROM (flexion, abduction, external rotation, internal rotation) and Shoulder pain, and Disability Index (SPADI). On the basis of this study, it can be concluded that there is a more significant increase in ROM, and SPADI score, and a significant decrease in pain on NPRS by Maitland mobilization therapy along with conventional therapy as compared to conventional physiotherapy alone.

In 2017, a comparative study was done by Manish K. Sah, *Nagaraj, S. and Pearlson, K. according to that study, Gong's mobilization and Cyriax manipulation is equally effective in improving shoulder abduction and decreasing the functional deficit in subjects with frozen shoulder. According to Wontae Gong, in Gong's mobilization, abduction of the shoulder joint occurs when the humeral head is in normal position and the normal muscular contraction occurs with the rolling and sliding occurring at the articular surface and the tension of posterior joint capsule is reduced. And Gong's mobilization also corrects glenohumeral malalignment that can induce proper acceleration during treatment .

A randomized clinical trial was done in 2015 by Héctor Joaquín Gutiérrez Espinoza on short-term efficacy of a glenohumeral posterior mobilization technique versus conventional physiotherapy for the improvement of the range of external rotation in patients with primary adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. The glenohumeral posterior mobilization technique applied after training with cycle ergometer is an effective short-term technique to treat primary adhesive capsulitis decreasing the severity of pain and improving joint function compared with conventional physiotherapy treatment. The degree of increase in shoulder external rotation is more than 20 degrees beyond the increase achieved with conventional treatment.

The literature has proved that muscle energy techniques and shoulder joint mobilizations are effective in reducing pain and stiffness in frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) associated with scapular asymmetry. But spencer technique and gongs mobilizations are not compared before in treatment of scapular asymmetry associated with phase II adhesive capsulitis. As pain due to stiff shoulder in adhesive capsulitis may lead towards scapular asymmetry. Hence this study aims to compare the effects of spencer technique and gongs mobilization on pain, range of motion, disability, and scapular symmetry in patients with phase II adhesive capsulitis.