Adhesive CapsulitisNCT07482111
Comparison of Digital and Conventional Physical Therapy on Cost Effectiveness, Pain, and Disability in Adhesive Capsulitis
A study testing Digital Physical Therapy (Tele-rehabilitation Program) and Conventional Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Program in people with Adhesive Capsulitis, run by University of Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Adhesive capsulitis is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by shoulder pain, progressive stiffness, and functional limitation, significantly affecting activities of daily living and quality of life. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 35 to 55 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Adhesive Capsulitis
- What is being tested?
- Digital Physical Therapy (Tele-rehabilitation Program) and Conventional Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Program
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 3 Nov 2025to 27 Feb 2026
- 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 35 to 55 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- The study included male and female participants aged 35-55 years who had received a clinical diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis from an orthopedic surgeon or a physical therapist. The study accepted participants who had experienced pain for three months or longer and showed increasing difficulties with both active and passive movements, particularly during external rotation. The participants had to comprehend the DASH and NPRS questionnaires on their own and provide their responses without assistance
Who cannot join
- The study excluded participants who had undergone any shoulder surgery or who had experienced any traumatic incident within the past six months or had severe mental health disorders, significant cognitive impairments, systemic inflammatory or neurological conditions that affected their upper limbs, or electronic implants that would be affected by electrical treatment, and diabetes mellitus that was not under control.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Adhesive capsulitis is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by shoulder pain, progressive stiffness, and functional limitation, significantly affecting activities of daily living and quality of life. Physical therapy plays a key role in the management of adhesive capsulitis through pain reduction, restoration of range of motion, and improvement of functional capacity. With the advancement of digital health technologies, digital physical therapy interventions such as tele-rehabilitation and app-guided exercise programs have emerged as potential alternatives to conventional in-person therapy.
However, evidence comparing the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of digital physical therapy with conventional physical therapy remains limited, particularly in patients with adhesive capsulitis.
Read more
Therefore, this randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of digital physical therapy and conventional physical therapy on pain intensity, functional disability, and cost-effectiveness among patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis. Participants will be randomly allocated to either a digital physical therapy group, receiving supervised exercise guidance and monitoring through digital platforms, or a conventional physical therapy group receiving standard in-clinic physiotherapy interventions.
Pain and disability outcomes will be assessed using validated outcome measures such as the Visual Analog Scale and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. Cost-effectiveness will be evaluated by comparing treatment-related direct and indirect costs between both groups.
The findings of this study will help determine whether digital physical therapy is a clinically effective and economically viable alternative to conventional physiotherapy for managing adhesive capsulitis, potentially improving accessibility to rehabilitation services.
- Conditions
- Adhesive Capsulitis
- Being tested
- Digital Physical Therapy (Tele-rehabilitation Program), Conventional Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Program
- Keywords
- Pain, Physical Therapy Modalities, Range of Motion, Articular, Shoulder joint
- Medical subject headings
- Bursitis, Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Digital Physical Therapy (Tele-rehabilitation Program)Other
Participants allocated to this group will receive a structured tele-rehabilitation program supervised remotely by a licensed physiotherapist through video-conferencing platforms. The program will include shoulder mobility exercises, capsular stretching, strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizer muscles, and functional training to improve shoulder movement and reduce pain. Participants will attend three supervised online sessions per week for six weeks. Instruction on proper exercise technique and progression will be provided, and participants will also be encouraged to perform prescribed home exercises between sessions. Regular virtual monitoring and feedback will be provided to ensure adherence and correct performance of exercises.
Conventional Physiotherapy Rehabilitation ProgramOther
Participants in this group will receive standard in-clinic physiotherapy supervised by licensed physiotherapists. The intervention will include therapeutic exercises focusing on shoulder mobility, capsular stretching, strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers, and manual therapy techniques such as joint mobilization to improve shoulder range of motion and reduce pain. Treatment sessions will be conducted three times per week for six weeks at the physiotherapy clinic. Participants will also receive instructions for home exercises to support recovery and improve functional mobility.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Physical Therapy (Tele-rehabilitation) | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Digital Physical Therapy (Tele-rehabilitation Program); Other: Conventional Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Program |
| Conventional Physical Therapy | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Conventional Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Program |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain Intensity Measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). The NPRS is an 11-point self-reported scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst imaginable pain." Participants will be asked to rate their average pain intensity over the past 24 hours related to their condition.
Score Interpretation:
Minimum score: 0 (no pain)
Maximum score: 10 (worst imaginable pain)
Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity (worse outcome).
Measured: 6 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Mar 2026
- Study start3 Nov 2025
- Primary completion27 Feb 2026
- Study completion27 Feb 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Adhesive CapsulitisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of LahoreThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Lahore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Aqsa Majeed, University of Lahore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07482111
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Arslan
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 19 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of Digital and Conventional Physical Therapy on Cost Effectiveness, Pain, and Disability in Adhesive Capsulitis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07482111
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Arslan
- Conditions
- Adhesive Capsulitis
- Keywords
- Pain, Physical Therapy Modalities, Range of Motion, Articular, Shoulder joint
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of LahoreUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 3 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 27 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 27 Feb 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 19 Mar 2026 (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.
Adhesive capsulitis is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by shoulder pain, progressive stiffness, and functional limitation, significantly affecting activities of daily living and quality of life. Physical therapy plays a key role in the management of adhesive capsulitis through pain reduction, restoration of range of motion, and improvement of functional capacity. With the advancement of digital health technologies, digital physical therapy interventions such as tele-rehabilitation and app-guided exercise programs have emerged as potential alternatives to conventional in-person therapy.
However, evidence comparing the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of digital physical therapy with conventional physical therapy remains limited, particularly in patients with adhesive capsulitis.
Therefore, this randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of digital physical therapy and conventional physical therapy on pain intensity, functional disability, and cost-effectiveness among patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis. Participants will be randomly allocated to either a digital physical therapy group, receiving supervised exercise guidance and monitoring through digital platforms, or a conventional physical therapy group receiving standard in-clinic physiotherapy interventions.
Pain and disability outcomes will be assessed using validated outcome measures such as the Visual Analog Scale and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. Cost-effectiveness will be evaluated by comparing treatment-related direct and indirect costs between both groups.
The findings of this study will help determine whether digital physical therapy is a clinically effective and economically viable alternative to conventional physiotherapy for managing adhesive capsulitis, potentially improving accessibility to rehabilitation services.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Physical Therapy (Tele-rehabilitation) | Experimental | Other: Digital Physical Therapy (Tele-rehabilitation Program), Other: Conventional Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Program |
| Conventional Physical Therapy | Active comparator | Other: Conventional Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Program |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 35 to 55 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- The study included male and female participants aged 35-55 years who had received a clinical diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis from an orthopedic surgeon or a physical therapist. The study accepted participants who had experienced pain for three months or longer and showed increasing difficulties with both active and passive movements, particularly during external rotation. The participants had to comprehend the DASH and NPRS questionnaires on their own and provide their responses without assistance
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- The study excluded participants who had undergone any shoulder surgery or who had experienced any traumatic incident within the past six months or had severe mental health disorders, significant cognitive impairments, systemic inflammatory or neurological conditions that affected their upper limbs, or electronic implants that would be affected by electrical treatment, and diabetes mellitus that was not under control.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Physical Therapy (Tele-rehabilitation Program)Participants allocated to this group will receive a structured tele-rehabilitation program supervised remotely by a licensed physiotherapist through video-conferencing platforms. The program will include shoulder mobility exercises, capsular stretching, strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizer muscles, and functional training to improve shoulder movement and reduce pain. Participants will attend three supervised online sessions per week for six weeks. Instruction on proper exercise technique and progression will be provided, and participants will also be encouraged to perform prescribed home exercises between sessions. Regular virtual monitoring and feedback will be provided to ensure adherence and correct performance of exercises. | Other | Digital Physical Therapy (Tele-rehabilitation) |
| Conventional Physiotherapy Rehabilitation ProgramParticipants in this group will receive standard in-clinic physiotherapy supervised by licensed physiotherapists. The intervention will include therapeutic exercises focusing on shoulder mobility, capsular stretching, strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers, and manual therapy techniques such as joint mobilization to improve shoulder range of motion and reduce pain. Treatment sessions will be conducted three times per week for six weeks at the physiotherapy clinic. Participants will also receive instructions for home exercises to support recovery and improve functional mobility. | Other | Conventional Physical Therapy, Digital Physical Therapy (Tele-rehabilitation) |
Primary outcome
Pain Intensity Measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Time frame: 6 weeks
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). The NPRS is an 11-point self-reported scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst imaginable pain." Participants will be asked to rate their average pain intensity over the past 24 hours related to their condition. Score Interpretation: Minimum score: 0 (no pain) Maximum score: 10 (worst imaginable pain) Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity (worse outcome).
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Adhesive Capsulitis
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Effects of Clinic Versus mHealth Application-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation in Patients With Adhesive Capsulitis
Adhesive Capsulitis
Not yet recruiting
Effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy on Physiotherapy Outcomes in Postmenopausal Women With Frozen Shoulder
Frozen Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis
Not yet recruiting
Effects of Posterior Capsular Stretching With and Without Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises in Frozen Shoulder
Frozen Shoulder
Active, not recruiting
Spencer vs. Ola Grimsby Techniques With Scapular Motor Training in Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis
Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis
Not yet recruitingPhase 4
OMT for Adhesive Capsulitis
Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder, Frozen Shoulder
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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Digital Physical Therapy (Tele-rehabilitation Program) and Conventional Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Program 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 1 inclusion and 1 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 19 Mar 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?
Pain Intensity Measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (time frame: 6 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 19 Mar 2026.