Adhesive CapsulitisNCT07047846
Bowen Technique Versus Dynamic Soft Tissue Mobilization on Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Disability in Patients With Adhesive Capsulitis
A study testing Dynamic soft tissue mobilization and Bowen Technique and 3 moves in people with Adhesive Capsulitis, run by University of Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
A randomized controlled trial included 72 patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis will conduct in University of Lahore Teaching Hospital. The study will complete within 9 months after the approval of synopsis. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 50 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Adhesive Capsulitis
- What is being tested?
- Dynamic soft tissue mobilization and Bowen Technique and 3 moves
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 72 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 16 Jul 2025to 3 Jan 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 50 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Diagnosed patients of 50-80 years of age
- Grade 2 \& 3 (frozen and thawing) adhesive capsulitis
- patients willing to participate in the study
- Only diabetic patients
Who cannot join
- Major mental health probleme
- Patients who has a history of surgery on the shoulder, other shoulder diseases including a rotator cuff tear, sub acromial impingement syndrome, and a shoulder labral tear
- Patients taking oral or intra-articular steroids and cortisone injection prior 3 months
- Subjects with rotator cuff tears or other shoulder ligament injuries, H/O arthritis related to shoulder, malignancy, adhesive capsulitis secondary to fractures, dislocation, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, neurological disorder
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Dr farrukh Murtaza Physical Therapist, Phd (PT)* contact
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
UOL Teaching Hospital
Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000
Dr farrukh murtaza Physical Therapist, PhD(PT)*, +923339970563, Farrukh.murtaza@uipt.uol.edu.pk
About this study
A randomized controlled trial included 72 patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis will conduct in University of Lahore Teaching Hospital. The study will complete within 9 months after the approval of synopsis. Patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria will identified by individual physiotherapist and will enrolled for particular study. Informed written consent will be taken by the patients and will randomly allocated into two groups. The total numbers of sessions will 12 (3 sessions per week). The study will single blinded. The assessor will unaware of the treatment given to both groups.
Control group received routine physical therapy with dynamic soft tissue mobilization technique.
thermotherapy, trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, shoulder isometrics and stretching that includes 12 sessions and three times per week. Experimental group received routine physical therapy along with Bowen technique. This includes thermotherapy, trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, shoulder isometrics and stretching that includes 12 sessions and three times per week
Read the detailed description
A randomized controlled trial will conduct at the UOL Teaching Hospital. Seventy-two diabetic patients aged 50-80 years with Grade 2 or 3 adhesive capsulitis will be divided into two groups at random: Bowen therapy will administered to Group A with routine physiotherapy, and Group B received DSTM with routine physiotherapy. Both interventions will delivered twice weekly for six weeks. Pain (VAS and SPADI Pain), ROM (flexion, abduction, external rotation), as well as functional impairment (SPADI Disability and Total Score) wil be assessed at baseline, week 3, and week 6.
- Conditions
- Adhesive Capsulitis
- Being tested
- Dynamic soft tissue mobilization, Bowen Technique and 3 moves
- Keywords
- Adhesive Capsulitis, Bowen Therapy, Dynamic Soft Tissue Mobilization, range of motion, Shoulder Pain, physiotherapy
- Medical subject headings
- Bursitis, Shoulder Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Dynamic soft tissue mobilizationOther
Begin with gentle heat application or light massage to warm up the tissue for 5 minutes. Assess the range of motion and identify specific areas of tightness and pain. - Use hands or specialized tools to apply sustained pressure to the fascia and underlying muscles, concentrating on the scapular, pectoral, deltoidal, and rotator cuff muscles. Apply specific DSTM techniques to the identified muscles, gradually increasing the intensity as tolerated by the patient. Follow up with gentle stretching and strengthening exercises to maintain the gained ROM and improve muscle function.For subscapular are release Gentle circular movements over the subscapularis region to decrease the tension and increase the freedom of this muscle.For Supraspinatus and Infraspinatus Work Specific exercise over these muscles to help relieve pain and improve the shoulder joint.
Bowen Technique and 3 movesOther
As the client sits, take a position across from the shoulder that needs attention. Hold the side you are working on by its forearm. Arrange the forearm so that it is horizontal at about chest level, keeping the elbow at a 90˚ angle and the shoulder apart from the trunk. Move 1: This is an anterior move that involves placing the fingers of the other hand over the midpoint of the triceps and posterior deltoid tendon, which is situated deeper. The ideal way to execute the exercise is to adduct the shoulder joint to its maximum ROM while placing the thumb of the same hand on the humeral head.Move 2: After the shoulder has fully adducted to the other side, strike the humeral head percussionally in the neck's direction. Move 3: Put the arm back in the beginning position and work the anterior deltoid at its midpoint with a supero-lateral move. Then take a pause for 2 minutes and repeat the moves. Complete 3 sets of all these moves in 35 minutes including 2 minutes pause after these 3 moves.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Bowen technique with routine physical therapy | Experimental | This group will receive bowen technique 3 moves with routine physical therapy including ROM exercises, stretching exercises, strengthening exercises and scapular stabilization exercises . This group will receive 12 sessions ( 3 sessions per week) Receives: Other: Bowen Technique and 3 moves |
| Dynamic soft tissue mobilization with routine physical therapy | Active comparator | This group will receive dynamic soft tissue mobilization with routine physical therapy including heat application , ROM exercises, stretching exercises, strengthening exercises and scapular stabilization exercises . This group will receive 12 sessions ( 3 sessions per week) Receives: Other: Dynamic soft tissue mobilization |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Visual Analogue Scale score
Visual analogue scale will be used to assess shoulder pain. Score ranges from 0-10. 0 shows least pain and 10 shows worst pain
Measured: Change from preintervention to 6th weeks
Change in Universal Goniometer readings
Universal Goniometer will be used to assess shoulder range of motion.
Measured: Change from preintervention to 6th weeks
change in Shoulder pain and disability Index (SPADI)
The 13 items of the SPADI measure two domains: an 8-item subscale measuring disability and a 5-item subscale measuring pain. The SPADI is available in two variants. The first version uses a visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate each item, while the second version uses a numerical rating scale (NRS).
Measured: Change from preintervention to 6th weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Jul 2025
- Study start16 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion10 Sep 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion3 Jan 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (4)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Adhesive CapsulitisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Lahore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Lahore Hospital (ULH)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Nadia Rehman, University of Lahore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07047846
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC-UOL-/494/08/24
- Other IDs
- The University of Lahore
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 4 Jun 2025
- Last updated
- 2 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Hansen C, Taylor-Piliae RE. What is Bowenwork(R)? A systematic review. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Nov;17(11):1001-6. doi: 10.1089/acm.2010.0023.
PubMed 22087611Aggarwal A, Saxena K, Palekar TJ, Rathi M. Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization in adhesive capsulitis: A randomized clinical trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021 Apr;26:435-442. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.12.039. Epub 2020 Dec 31.
PubMed 33992280Jusdado-Garcia M, Cuesta-Barriuso R. Soft Tissue Mobilization and Stretching for Shoulder in CrossFitters: A Randomized Pilot Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 12;18(2):575. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18020575.
PubMed 33445505Carter B. A pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of Bowen technique in the management of clients with frozen shoulder. Complement Ther Med. 2001 Dec;9(4):208-15. doi: 10.1054/ctim.2001.0481.
PubMed 12184347
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Bowen Technique Versus Dynamic Soft Tissue Mobilization on Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Disability in Patients With Adhesive Capsulitis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07047846
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC-UOL-/494/08/24
- Conditions
- Adhesive Capsulitis
- Keywords
- Adhesive Capsulitis, Bowen Therapy, Dynamic Soft Tissue Mobilization, range of motion, Shoulder Pain, physiotherapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of LahoreUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Lahore Hospital (ULH)
- Study start
- 16 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 10 Sep 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 3 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 2 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
A randomized controlled trial included 72 patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis will conduct in University of Lahore Teaching Hospital. The study will complete within 9 months after the approval of synopsis. Patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria will identified by individual physiotherapist and will enrolled for particular study. Informed written consent will be taken by the patients and will randomly allocated into two groups. The total numbers of sessions will 12 (3 sessions per week). The study will single blinded. The assessor will unaware of the treatment given to both groups.
Control group received routine physical therapy with dynamic soft tissue mobilization technique.
thermotherapy, trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, shoulder isometrics and stretching that includes 12 sessions and three times per week. Experimental group received routine physical therapy along with Bowen technique. This includes thermotherapy, trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, shoulder isometrics and stretching that includes 12 sessions and three times per week
Detailed description
A randomized controlled trial will conduct at the UOL Teaching Hospital. Seventy-two diabetic patients aged 50-80 years with Grade 2 or 3 adhesive capsulitis will be divided into two groups at random: Bowen therapy will administered to Group A with routine physiotherapy, and Group B received DSTM with routine physiotherapy. Both interventions will delivered twice weekly for six weeks. Pain (VAS and SPADI Pain), ROM (flexion, abduction, external rotation), as well as functional impairment (SPADI Disability and Total Score) wil be assessed at baseline, week 3, and week 6.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Bowen technique with routine physical therapy | Experimental | Other: Bowen Technique and 3 movesThis group will receive bowen technique 3 moves with routine physical therapy including ROM exercises, stretching exercises, strengthening exercises and scapular stabilization exercises . This group will receive 12 sessions ( 3 sessions per week) |
| Dynamic soft tissue mobilization with routine physical therapy | Active comparator | Other: Dynamic soft tissue mobilizationThis group will receive dynamic soft tissue mobilization with routine physical therapy including heat application , ROM exercises, stretching exercises, strengthening exercises and scapular stabilization exercises . This group will receive 12 sessions ( 3 sessions per week) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 50 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Diagnosed patients of 50-80 years of age
- Grade 2 \& 3 (frozen and thawing) adhesive capsulitis
- patients willing to participate in the study
- Only diabetic patients
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Major mental health probleme
- Patients who has a history of surgery on the shoulder, other shoulder diseases including a rotator cuff tear, sub acromial impingement syndrome, and a shoulder labral tear
- Patients taking oral or intra-articular steroids and cortisone injection prior 3 months
- Subjects with rotator cuff tears or other shoulder ligament injuries, H/O arthritis related to shoulder, malignancy, adhesive capsulitis secondary to fractures, dislocation, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, neurological disorder
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic soft tissue mobilizationBegin with gentle heat application or light massage to warm up the tissue for 5 minutes. Assess the range of motion and identify specific areas of tightness and pain. - Use hands or specialized tools to apply sustained pressure to the fascia and underlying muscles, concentrating on the scapular, pectoral, deltoidal, and rotator cuff muscles. Apply specific DSTM techniques to the identified muscles, gradually increasing the intensity as tolerated by the patient. Follow up with gentle stretching and strengthening exercises to maintain the gained ROM and improve muscle function.For subscapular are release Gentle circular movements over the subscapularis region to decrease the tension and increase the freedom of this muscle.For Supraspinatus and Infraspinatus Work Specific exercise over these muscles to help relieve pain and improve the shoulder joint. | Other | Dynamic soft tissue mobilization with routine physical therapy |
| Bowen Technique and 3 movesAs the client sits, take a position across from the shoulder that needs attention. Hold the side you are working on by its forearm. Arrange the forearm so that it is horizontal at about chest level, keeping the elbow at a 90˚ angle and the shoulder apart from the trunk. Move 1: This is an anterior move that involves placing the fingers of the other hand over the midpoint of the triceps and posterior deltoid tendon, which is situated deeper. The ideal way to execute the exercise is to adduct the shoulder joint to its maximum ROM while placing the thumb of the same hand on the humeral head.Move 2: After the shoulder has fully adducted to the other side, strike the humeral head percussionally in the neck's direction. Move 3: Put the arm back in the beginning position and work the anterior deltoid at its midpoint with a supero-lateral move. Then take a pause for 2 minutes and repeat the moves. Complete 3 sets of all these moves in 35 minutes including 2 minutes pause after these 3 moves. | Other | Bowen technique with routine physical therapy |
Primary outcome
Change in Visual Analogue Scale score
Time frame: Change from preintervention to 6th weeks
Visual analogue scale will be used to assess shoulder pain. Score ranges from 0-10. 0 shows least pain and 10 shows worst pain
Change in Universal Goniometer readings
Time frame: Change from preintervention to 6th weeks
Universal Goniometer will be used to assess shoulder range of motion.
change in Shoulder pain and disability Index (SPADI)
Time frame: Change from preintervention to 6th weeks
The 13 items of the SPADI measure two domains: an 8-item subscale measuring disability and a 5-item subscale measuring pain. The SPADI is available in two variants. The first version uses a visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate each item, while the second version uses a numerical rating scale (NRS).
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Jul 2025.
- Results publication: PubMed 22087611Hansen C, Taylor-Piliae RE. What is Bowenwork(R)? A systematic review. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Nov;17(11):1001-6. doi: 10.1089/acm.2010.0023.
- Results publication: PubMed 33992280Aggarwal A, Saxena K, Palekar TJ, Rathi M. Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization in adhesive capsulitis: A randomized clinical trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021 Apr;26:435-442. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.12.039. Epub 2020 Dec 31.
- Results publication: PubMed 33445505Jusdado-Garcia M, Cuesta-Barriuso R. Soft Tissue Mobilization and Stretching for Shoulder in CrossFitters: A Randomized Pilot Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 12;18(2):575. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18020575.
- Results publication: PubMed 12184347Carter B. A pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of Bowen technique in the management of clients with frozen shoulder. Complement Ther Med. 2001 Dec;9(4):208-15. doi: 10.1054/ctim.2001.0481.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Dr farrukh Murtaza Physical Therapist, Phd (PT)* contact
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Dynamic soft tissue mobilization and Bowen Technique and 3 moves in people with Adhesive Capsulitis, run by University of Lahore 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 4 inclusion and 4 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Jul 2025. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Dr farrukh Murtaza Physical Therapist, Phd (PT)* (+923339970563, Farrukh.murtaza@uipt.uol.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Visual Analogue Scale score (time frame: Change from preintervention to 6th weeks). The study lists 3 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 NCT07047846, which also lists 4 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 2 Jul 2025.