Idiopathic Adhesive CapsulitisNCT07905365
Spencer vs. Ola Grimsby Techniques With Scapular Motor Training in Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis
A study testing Spencer technique and scapular motor training and Ola Grimsby technique and scapular motor training in people with Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis, run by University of Management and Technology Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Adhesive capsulitis (also known as frozen shoulder) causes pain and stiffness in the joint. It can interfere with such ordinary activities as dressing, reaching up to a shelf and lying on the affected side at night and may last for months . Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis
- What is being tested?
- Spencer technique and scapular motor training and Ola Grimsby technique and scapular motor training
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 32 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 22 Oct 2026to 31 Dec 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 40 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Patients diagnosed with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) based on clinical examination (painful and restricted active and passive glenohumeral range of motion in capsular pattern).
- Age group between 40 and 60 years Both genders Presence of painful and restricted shoulder movements in at least two planes, particularly external rotation and abduction.
- Shoulder pain more than 3 months Stage 2 idiopathic adhesive capsulitis. NPRS scoring 3 to 6
Who cannot join
- Secondary adhesive capsulitis associated with diabetes mellitus (uncontrolled), thyroid disorders, cardiac surgery, or post-immobilization.
- History of shoulder fracture, dislocation, or surgical intervention on the affected side.
- Cervical radiculopathy or neurological involvement in the upper limb. Systemic inflammatory arthropathies (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematous).
- Intra-articular corticosteroid injection within the preceding eight weeks. Active malignancy or bone metastases involving the shoulder girdle. Pregnancy
- -
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Pakistan1 site
University of Management & Technology
Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000
About this study
Official title: Comparative Effects of Spencer and Ola Grimsby Techniques in Combination With Scapular Motor Training on Pain, Range of Motion and Disability in Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis
Adhesive capsulitis (also known as frozen shoulder) causes pain and stiffness in the joint. It can interfere with such ordinary activities as dressing, reaching up to a shelf and lying on the affected side at night and may last for months . Manual therapy is a typical treatment component, but it remains unclear to clinicians which technique is most effective . The two hands-on techniques, the Spencer technique and the Ola Grimsby techniques will be compared in a randomized clinical trial of both techniques combined with the scapular motor training programme. Idiopathic adhesive capsulitis patients will be randomly assigned to either of two treatments groups and undergo treatment three times weekly for six weeks. Baseline and after last session pain, shoulder range of motion and disability will be recorded. The goal is to determine if one technique is more effective than the other (when it is trained concurrently with it) when training scapular control.
- Conditions
- Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis
- Being tested
- Spencer technique and scapular motor training, Ola Grimsby technique and scapular motor training
- Keywords
- Adhesive capsulitis, Shoulder Pain, Range of Motion, Disability
- 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.
Spencer technique and scapular motor trainingOther
Participants receive the Spencer technique, a seven-stage osteopathic muscle energy sequence that works through shoulder extension, flexion, circumduction with compression, circumduction with traction, abduction with elbow flexion, internal rotation, and a final stage of traction with rhythmic pumping. Each stage is repeated about 3 to 5 times, moving from the most pain-free direction to the most restricted. Scapular motor training follows straight after
Ola Grimsby technique and scapular motor trainingOther
Ola Grimsby glenohumeral joint mobilization with inferior glide, posterior glide and anterior glide, from the resting position of the joint in the direction of the capsule that is restricted. The Ola Grimsby approach is followed for treatment, as in previous adhesive capsulitis trials . Graded mobilization, Grade I and II oscillations for initial sessions when pain is the primary issue, then Grade III and IV sustained or oscillatory stretches when stiffness is the principal limiting factor. Posterior glide is prioritized when external rotation is most restricted and higher grade mobilization is employed as pain subsides . Dosage: 3 sets of 30 to 60 seconds in each direction of glide depending on the level of shoulder irritation. And follows the therapeutic exercise program and functional training
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Spencer technique and scapular motor training | Experimental | Participants receive the Spencer technique, a seven-stage osteopathic muscle energy sequence that works through shoulder extension, flexion, circumduction with compression, circumduction with traction, abduction with elbow flexion, internal rotation, and a final stage of traction with rhythmic pumping. Each stage is repeated about 3 to 5 times, moving from the most pain-free direction to the most restricted Scapular motor training follows straight after Receives: Other: Spencer technique and scapular motor training |
| Ola Grimsby technique + scapular motor training | Active comparator | Ola Grimsby glenohumeral joint mobilization with inferior glide, posterior glide and anterior glide, from the resting position of the joint in the direction of the capsule that is restricted. The Ola Grimsby approach is followed for treatment, as in previous adhesive capsulitis trials Graded mobilization, Grade I and II oscillations for initial sessions when pain is the primary issue, then Grade III and IV sustained or oscillatory stretches when stiffness is the principal limiting factor. Posterior glide is prioritized when external rotation is most restricted. and higher grade mobilization is employed as pain subsides . Dosage: 3 sets of 30 to 60 seconds in each direction of glide depending on the level of shoulder irritation. And follows the therapeutic exercise program and functional training Receives: Other: Ola Grimsby technique and scapular motor training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Pain intensity was assessed using the 11-point NPRS, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). (7)It demonstrates good responsiveness in patients with low back pain, with approximately 2 points considered a clinically important change
Measured: baseline and after 6 weeks
Goniometric range of motion
The smartphone inclinometer is a mobile version of a medical device called an inclinometer that can be used to measure joint range of motion (ROM) accurately and objectively. It uses the smartphone's sensors to determine angle of displacement and outputs the reading in degrees. Smartphones are valid, reliable, cost-effective tools to measure shoulder ROM in real-world clinical and research settings
Measured: baseline and after 6 weeks
Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI).
A 13-item questionnaire with a 5-item pain subscale and an 8-item disability subscale (4). Each item is scored from 0 to 10 and the total is converted to a percentage from 0 to 100, where a higher score means more pain and disability. I
Measured: baseline and after 6 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Oct 2026
- Study start22 Oct 2026
- Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Idiopathic 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
- 32 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Management and Technology Lahore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Rabia Majeed, University of Management and Technology Lahore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07905365
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RE-179-2026
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 29 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The results data collected , de-identified individual participant data will be shared.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects of Spencer and Ola Grimsby Techniques in Combination With Scapular Motor Training on Pain, Range of Motion and Disability in Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07905365
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RE-179-2026
- Conditions
- Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis
- Keywords
- Adhesive capsulitis, Shoulder Pain, Range of Motion, Disability
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Management and Technology LahoreUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 22 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 29 Oct 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 (also known as frozen shoulder) causes pain and stiffness in the joint. It can interfere with such ordinary activities as dressing, reaching up to a shelf and lying on the affected side at night and may last for months . Manual therapy is a typical treatment component, but it remains unclear to clinicians which technique is most effective . The two hands-on techniques, the Spencer technique and the Ola Grimsby techniques will be compared in a randomized clinical trial of both techniques combined with the scapular motor training programme. Idiopathic adhesive capsulitis patients will be randomly assigned to either of two treatments groups and undergo treatment three times weekly for six weeks. Baseline and after last session pain, shoulder range of motion and disability will be recorded. The goal is to determine if one technique is more effective than the other (when it is trained concurrently with it) when training scapular control.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Spencer technique and scapular motor training | Experimental | Other: Spencer technique and scapular motor trainingParticipants receive the Spencer technique, a seven-stage osteopathic muscle energy sequence that works through shoulder extension, flexion, circumduction with compression, circumduction with traction, abduction with elbow flexion, internal rotation, and a final stage of traction with rhythmic pumping. Each stage is repeated about 3 to 5 times, moving from the most pain-free direction to the most restricted Scapular motor training follows straight after |
| Ola Grimsby technique + scapular motor training | Active comparator | Other: Ola Grimsby technique and scapular motor trainingOla Grimsby glenohumeral joint mobilization with inferior glide, posterior glide and anterior glide, from the resting position of the joint in the direction of the capsule that is restricted. The Ola Grimsby approach is followed for treatment, as in previous adhesive capsulitis trials Graded mobilization, Grade I and II oscillations for initial sessions when pain is the primary issue, then Grade III and IV sustained or oscillatory stretches when stiffness is the principal limiting factor. Posterior glide is prioritized when external rotation is most restricted. and higher grade mobilization is employed as pain subsides . Dosage: 3 sets of 30 to 60 seconds in each direction of glide depending on the level of shoulder irritation. And follows the therapeutic exercise program and functional training |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Patients diagnosed with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) based on clinical examination (painful and restricted active and passive glenohumeral range of motion in capsular pattern).
- Age group between 40 and 60 years Both genders Presence of painful and restricted shoulder movements in at least two planes, particularly external rotation and abduction.
- Shoulder pain more than 3 months Stage 2 idiopathic adhesive capsulitis. NPRS scoring 3 to 6
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Secondary adhesive capsulitis associated with diabetes mellitus (uncontrolled), thyroid disorders, cardiac surgery, or post-immobilization.
- History of shoulder fracture, dislocation, or surgical intervention on the affected side.
- Cervical radiculopathy or neurological involvement in the upper limb. Systemic inflammatory arthropathies (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematous).
- Intra-articular corticosteroid injection within the preceding eight weeks. Active malignancy or bone metastases involving the shoulder girdle. Pregnancy
- -
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Spencer technique and scapular motor trainingParticipants receive the Spencer technique, a seven-stage osteopathic muscle energy sequence that works through shoulder extension, flexion, circumduction with compression, circumduction with traction, abduction with elbow flexion, internal rotation, and a final stage of traction with rhythmic pumping. Each stage is repeated about 3 to 5 times, moving from the most pain-free direction to the most restricted. Scapular motor training follows straight after | Other | Spencer technique and scapular motor training |
| Ola Grimsby technique and scapular motor trainingOla Grimsby glenohumeral joint mobilization with inferior glide, posterior glide and anterior glide, from the resting position of the joint in the direction of the capsule that is restricted. The Ola Grimsby approach is followed for treatment, as in previous adhesive capsulitis trials . Graded mobilization, Grade I and II oscillations for initial sessions when pain is the primary issue, then Grade III and IV sustained or oscillatory stretches when stiffness is the principal limiting factor. Posterior glide is prioritized when external rotation is most restricted and higher grade mobilization is employed as pain subsides . Dosage: 3 sets of 30 to 60 seconds in each direction of glide depending on the level of shoulder irritation. And follows the therapeutic exercise program and functional training | Other | Ola Grimsby technique + scapular motor training |
Primary outcome
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time frame: baseline and after 6 weeks
Pain intensity was assessed using the 11-point NPRS, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). (7)It demonstrates good responsiveness in patients with low back pain, with approximately 2 points considered a clinically important change
Goniometric range of motion
Time frame: baseline and after 6 weeks
The smartphone inclinometer is a mobile version of a medical device called an inclinometer that can be used to measure joint range of motion (ROM) accurately and objectively. It uses the smartphone's sensors to determine angle of displacement and outputs the reading in degrees. Smartphones are valid, reliable, cost-effective tools to measure shoulder ROM in real-world clinical and research settings
Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI).
Time frame: baseline and after 6 weeks
A 13-item questionnaire with a 5-item pain subscale and an 8-item disability subscale (4). Each item is scored from 0 to 10 and the total is converted to a percentage from 0 to 100, where a higher score means more pain and disability. I
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 29 Oct 2026.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The results data collected , de-identified individual participant data will be shared.
Related trials for Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis
Not yet recruiting
Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive Therapy on Shoulder Range of Motion In Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis
Adhesive Capsulitis
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 Spencer technique and scapular motor training and Ola Grimsby technique and scapular motor training in people with Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis, run by University of Management and Technology 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 3 inclusion and 5 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Oct 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?
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?
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?
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) (time frame: baseline and after 6 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?
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 29 Oct 2026.