Adhesive CapsulitisNCT07921134
Effects of Clinic Versus mHealth Application-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation in Patients With Adhesive Capsulitis
A study testing Clinic-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (Therapist-supervised Exercises + MWM) and mHealth Application-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (App-guided Exercises + self-administered MWM) in people with Adhesive Capsulitis, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
This quasi-experimental study aims to compare clinic-based versus mHealth application-based shoulder rehabilitation in patients with adhesive capsulitis, focusing on shoulder range of motion, functional disability, pain intensity, and exercise adherence. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Adhesive Capsulitis
- What is being tested?
- Clinic-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (Therapist-supervised Exercises + MWM) and mHealth Application-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (App-guided Exercises + self-administered MWM)
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 86 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- Nov 2026to Jul 2027
- 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 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Patients with unilateral frozen shoulder.
- Patients with stage 2 adhesive capsulitis (frozen stage).
- Loss of ≥50% of shoulder ROM in both active and passive range, symmetrical in all directions, with symptoms persisting for at least 4 months.
- Patients will be allocated based on feasibility: individuals unable to attend regular clinic sessions but having access to a smartphone will be assigned to the app-based rehabilitation group, while those able to attend regular clinic sessions will be assigned to the supervised rehabilitation group.
Who cannot join
- Patients with systemic illnesses such as diabetes mellitus or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Patients with shoulder pathologies including rotator cuff tears, ligament injuries, or malignancies in the shoulder region.
- Patients with neurological disorders affecting the upper limb.
- Patients with a history of previous surgery or manipulation under anesthesia of the affected shoulder.
- Secondary adhesive capsulitis caused by trauma such as shoulder fracture or dislocation.
- Local corticosteroid injection to the affected shoulder within the last three months or current corticosteroid therapy.
- Pregnancy.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site
Orthoflex Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Clinic
Islamabad, Punjab Province
Maria Khalid, MSOMPT, 03315369768, maria.khalid@riphah.edu.pk
Sumaira Muslim, MSOMPT*
About this study
This quasi-experimental study aims to compare clinic-based versus mHealth application-based shoulder rehabilitation in patients with adhesive capsulitis, focusing on shoulder range of motion, functional disability, pain intensity, and exercise adherence.
Read the detailed description
Adhesive capsulitis (AC), or frozen shoulder, is an insidious inflammatory disorder characterized by a painful, progressive decrease in passive or active glenohumeral joint range of motion caused by gradual fibrosis and subsequent contracture of the glenoid capsule. The condition progresses through freezing, frozen and thawing phases. In the frozen stage, pain gradually decreases and is usually experienced at the ends of the range of motion, with characteristic progressive loss of glenohumeral external rotation, abduction, internal rotation and flexion. Physiotherapy management may include moist heat, strengthening, stretching, mobilization techniques, MWM, pendulum exercises, wall ladder exercises and capsular stretching.
Clinic-based rehabilitation provides supervised mobilization and exercise, whereas mHealth-based rehabilitation can provide structured and accessible exercise programs remotely. The synopsis identifies a research gap in directly comparing these delivery models, particularly with regard to range of motion, functional disability, pain and exercise adherence. In this study, the clinic-based group will receive therapist-supervised joint mobilization and therapeutic exercises, while the mHealth application-based group will perform an identical structured exercise program through PhysiApp, with exercises prescribed using Physitrack. The app-based group will also perform self-administered MWM using theraband with video instructions.
- Conditions
- Adhesive Capsulitis
- Being tested
- Clinic-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (Therapist-supervised Exercises + MWM), mHealth Application-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (App-guided Exercises + self-administered MWM)
- Keywords
- Frozen Shoulder, Clinic-Based Rehabilitation,, Mobilization with Movement (MWM)
- Medical subject headings
- Bursitis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Clinic-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (Therapist-supervised Exercises + MWM)Other
1- Hot pack: 15 minutes prior to session. 2- Pendulum/Codman and wall ladder exercises (10 reps × 3 sets). 3- Capsular stretching: anterior, posterior and inferior shoulder stretch (hold for 20 seconds × 5 repetitions). 4- MWM: Flexion-posterior glide with Mulligan belt; external rotation-posterolateral glide; abduction-inferior glide; internal rotation-inferior glide, with active movement within pain-free range. 5- Dosage: 2 sets × 10 reps each with 1 min rest between each set. 6- Home exercises: twice daily
mHealth Application-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (App-guided Exercises + self-administered MWM)Other
Hot pack: 15 minutes prior to session. 2- Pendulum/Codman and wall ladder exercises (10 reps × 3 sets). 3- Capsular stretching: anterior, posterior and inferior shoulder stretch (hold for 20 seconds × 5 repetitions). 4- MWM via app guidance: Flexion-posterior glide with theraband; external rotation-posterolateral glide; abduction-inferior glide; internal rotation-inferior glide, with active movement within pain-free range. 5- Dosage: 2 sets × 10 reps each with 1 min rest between each set. 6- Exercises performed using app-based video instructions. 7- Home exercises: twice daily
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Clinic-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (Therapist-supervised Exercises + MWM) | Experimental | Hot pack: 15 minutes prior to session. Pendulum/Codman and wall ladder exercises (10 reps × 3 sets). Capsular stretching: anterior, posterior and inferior shoulder stretch (hold for 20 seconds × 5 repetitions).
MWM: Flexion-posterior glide with Mulligan belt; external rotation-posterolateral glide; abduction-inferior glide; internal rotation-inferior glide, with active movement within pain-free range.
Dosage: 2 sets × 10 reps each with 1 min rest between each set. Home exercises: twice daily Receives: Other: Clinic-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (Therapist-supervised Exercises + MWM) |
| mHealth Application-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (App-guided Exercises + self-administered MWM) | Other | Hot pack: 15 minutes prior to session. Pendulum/Codman and wall ladder exercises (10 reps × 3 sets). Capsular stretching: anterior, posterior and inferior shoulder stretch (hold for 20 seconds × 5 repetitions).
MWM via app guidance: Flexion-posterior glide with theraband; external rotation-posterolateral glide; abduction-inferior glide; internal rotation-inferior glide, with active movement within pain-free range.
Dosage: 2 sets × 10 reps each with 1 min rest between each set. Exercises performed using app-based video instructions. Home exercises: twice daily Receives: Other: mHealth Application-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (App-guided Exercises + self-administered MWM) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Goniometer
A standard instrument used in clinical settings to quantify joint range of motion in degrees by aligning its arms with designated bony landmarks. Standard goniometer reliability: ICC = 0.749-0.949.
Measured: 4 weeks
Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)
A patient-reported outcome measure comprising 13 items across pain and disability subscales. Scores range from 0 (best) to 100 (worst). It has high test-retest reliability with ICC = 0.989 for pain and ICC = 0.990 for disability.
Measured: 4 weeks
Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS)
A self-report questionnaire containing six items rated on a five-point Likert scale, with a minimum value of 0 and maximum value of 24. Higher values indicate greater consistency. Test-retest reliability is: ICC = 0.97.
Measured: 4 weeks
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
A scale assessing pain severity from 0 to 10, where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents the worst pain that can be felt by the patient. Reliability: ICC = 0.67.
Measured: 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Nov 2026
- Study startNov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionJul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionJul 2027 (estimated)
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 Riphah International UniversityThe 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
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 86 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Maria Khalid, Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07921134
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC/ Sumaira Muslim 02535
- Status last verified
- Nov 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Nov 2026
- Last updated
- 6 Nov 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 6 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Clinic Versus mHealth Application-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation in Patients With Adhesive Capsulitis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07921134
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC/ Sumaira Muslim 02535
- Conditions
- Adhesive Capsulitis
- Keywords
- Frozen Shoulder, Clinic-Based Rehabilitation,, Mobilization with Movement (MWM)
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 86 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Jul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jul 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 6 Nov 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.
This quasi-experimental study aims to compare clinic-based versus mHealth application-based shoulder rehabilitation in patients with adhesive capsulitis, focusing on shoulder range of motion, functional disability, pain intensity, and exercise adherence.
Detailed description
Adhesive capsulitis (AC), or frozen shoulder, is an insidious inflammatory disorder characterized by a painful, progressive decrease in passive or active glenohumeral joint range of motion caused by gradual fibrosis and subsequent contracture of the glenoid capsule. The condition progresses through freezing, frozen and thawing phases. In the frozen stage, pain gradually decreases and is usually experienced at the ends of the range of motion, with characteristic progressive loss of glenohumeral external rotation, abduction, internal rotation and flexion. Physiotherapy management may include moist heat, strengthening, stretching, mobilization techniques, MWM, pendulum exercises, wall ladder exercises and capsular stretching.
Clinic-based rehabilitation provides supervised mobilization and exercise, whereas mHealth-based rehabilitation can provide structured and accessible exercise programs remotely. The synopsis identifies a research gap in directly comparing these delivery models, particularly with regard to range of motion, functional disability, pain and exercise adherence. In this study, the clinic-based group will receive therapist-supervised joint mobilization and therapeutic exercises, while the mHealth application-based group will perform an identical structured exercise program through PhysiApp, with exercises prescribed using Physitrack. The app-based group will also perform self-administered MWM using theraband with video instructions.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Clinic-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (Therapist-supervised Exercises + MWM) | Experimental | Other: Clinic-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (Therapist-supervised Exercises + MWM)Hot pack: 15 minutes prior to session. Pendulum/Codman and wall ladder exercises (10 reps × 3 sets). Capsular stretching: anterior, posterior and inferior shoulder stretch (hold for 20 seconds × 5 repetitions). MWM: Flexion-posterior glide with Mulligan belt; external rotation-posterolateral glide; abduction-inferior glide; internal rotation-inferior glide, with active movement within pain-free range. Dosage: 2 sets × 10 reps each with 1 min rest between each set. Home exercises: twice daily |
| mHealth Application-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (App-guided Exercises + self-administered MWM) | Other | Other: mHealth Application-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (App-guided Exercises + self-administered MWM)Hot pack: 15 minutes prior to session. Pendulum/Codman and wall ladder exercises (10 reps × 3 sets). Capsular stretching: anterior, posterior and inferior shoulder stretch (hold for 20 seconds × 5 repetitions). MWM via app guidance: Flexion-posterior glide with theraband; external rotation-posterolateral glide; abduction-inferior glide; internal rotation-inferior glide, with active movement within pain-free range. Dosage: 2 sets × 10 reps each with 1 min rest between each set. Exercises performed using app-based video instructions. Home exercises: twice daily |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Patients with unilateral frozen shoulder.
- Patients with stage 2 adhesive capsulitis (frozen stage).
- Loss of ≥50% of shoulder ROM in both active and passive range, symmetrical in all directions, with symptoms persisting for at least 4 months.
- Patients will be allocated based on feasibility: individuals unable to attend regular clinic sessions but having access to a smartphone will be assigned to the app-based rehabilitation group, while those able to attend regular clinic sessions will be assigned to the supervised rehabilitation group.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Patients with systemic illnesses such as diabetes mellitus or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Patients with shoulder pathologies including rotator cuff tears, ligament injuries, or malignancies in the shoulder region.
- Patients with neurological disorders affecting the upper limb.
- Patients with a history of previous surgery or manipulation under anesthesia of the affected shoulder.
- Secondary adhesive capsulitis caused by trauma such as shoulder fracture or dislocation.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Clinic-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (Therapist-supervised Exercises + MWM)1- Hot pack: 15 minutes prior to session. 2- Pendulum/Codman and wall ladder exercises (10 reps × 3 sets). 3- Capsular stretching: anterior, posterior and inferior shoulder stretch (hold for 20 seconds × 5 repetitions). 4- MWM: Flexion-posterior glide with Mulligan belt; external rotation-posterolateral glide; abduction-inferior glide; internal rotation-inferior glide, with active movement within pain-free range. 5- Dosage: 2 sets × 10 reps each with 1 min rest between each set. 6- Home exercises: twice daily | Other | Clinic-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (Therapist-supervised Exercises + MWM) |
| mHealth Application-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (App-guided Exercises + self-administered MWM)Hot pack: 15 minutes prior to session. 2- Pendulum/Codman and wall ladder exercises (10 reps × 3 sets). 3- Capsular stretching: anterior, posterior and inferior shoulder stretch (hold for 20 seconds × 5 repetitions). 4- MWM via app guidance: Flexion-posterior glide with theraband; external rotation-posterolateral glide; abduction-inferior glide; internal rotation-inferior glide, with active movement within pain-free range. 5- Dosage: 2 sets × 10 reps each with 1 min rest between each set. 6- Exercises performed using app-based video instructions. 7- Home exercises: twice daily | Other | mHealth Application-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (App-guided Exercises + self-administered MWM) |
Primary outcome
Goniometer
Time frame: 4 weeks
A standard instrument used in clinical settings to quantify joint range of motion in degrees by aligning its arms with designated bony landmarks. Standard goniometer reliability: ICC = 0.749-0.949.
Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)
Time frame: 4 weeks
A patient-reported outcome measure comprising 13 items across pain and disability subscales. Scores range from 0 (best) to 100 (worst). It has high test-retest reliability with ICC = 0.989 for pain and ICC = 0.990 for disability.
Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS)
Time frame: 4 weeks
A self-report questionnaire containing six items rated on a five-point Likert scale, with a minimum value of 0 and maximum value of 24. Higher values indicate greater consistency. Test-retest reliability is: ICC = 0.97.
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time frame: 4 weeks
A scale assessing pain severity from 0 to 10, where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents the worst pain that can be felt by the patient. Reliability: ICC = 0.67.
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 6 Nov 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Spencer vs. Ola Grimsby Techniques With Scapular Motor Training in Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis
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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.
Maria Khalid principal investigator
Riphah International University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Clinic-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (Therapist-supervised Exercises + MWM) and mHealth Application-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation (App-guided Exercises + self-administered MWM) in people with Adhesive Capsulitis, run by Riphah International University 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 7 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Nov 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?
Contact Maria Khalid, MSOMPT (03315369768, maria.khalid@riphah.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Goniometer (time frame: 4 weeks). The study lists 4 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 6 Nov 2026.