An interventional study of Thoracic spine mobilization with Glenohumeral joint mobilization and Glenohumeral joint mobilization only in Adhesive Capsulitis, sponsored by Foundation University Islamabad. Recruiting at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 40 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-09.
Sponsored by Foundation University Islamabad · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Among 86 studies in Bursitis with a site in Pakistan — 27 open to participants now, 35 under way, none of them phase 3. Bursitis · Pakistan.
Among the 86 studies in Bursitis with a site in Pakistan, this one is the 59th largest by planned enrollment, is one of 17 that started in 2025, is one of 86 with no phase, reaches primary completion later than 20 of the 34 other live ones, and was the 67th registered.
383 studies on the registry are indexed under Bursitis; 111 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 34 is below the median of 44 across 346 interventional studies indexed under Bursitis.
Browse Bursitis studies →27 of the 86 studies in Bursitis with a site in Pakistan are open now, in 1 country. Each count lists the studies.
Of the 64 Bursitis studies recruiting now, 17 (27%) set no upper age limit and 40 (63%) stop at 75 or younger; 0 take children under 18; 8 take healthy volunteers.
This study: 40 Years to 65 Years · all sexes · no healthy volunteers.
The full table on the hub →86 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.
First in 2018; this study’s year is marked. 17 started in 2025.
Median enrollment 38 across the 86 interventional studies. Of the 43 that completed or were terminated, 0 (0%) have results posted.
None of the 86 has an industry lead sponsor. The 10 most frequent:
Foundation University Islamabad is the lead sponsor of 255 studies on the registry; 142 are open to participants now.
Foundation University Islamabad has 8 studies filed under Bursitis — fewer than ten, so there is no comparison to draw.
8 of the studies in Bursitis with a site in Pakistan that are under way reach primary completion within a year, 0 of them phase 3. Phase 3 first, then by date:
| Study | Primary completion |
|---|---|
| NCT07854288Riphah International UniversityMaitland Mobilization With and Without Stroking Release Technique of Rotator Cuff Muscle in Frozen Shoulder | 2026-11-01 |
| NCT07856173Foundation University IslamabadComparative Effects of Niel Asher Technique and Bowen Technique on Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Disability in Patients With Adhesive Capsulitis. | 2026-12-18 |
| NCT07838610Foundation University IslamabadAdditional Effects of Thoracic Mobilization Versus Manipulation Along With Standard Physical Therapy in Adhesive Capsulitis | 2026-12-18 |
| NCT07905365University of Management and Technology LahoreSpencer vs. Ola Grimsby Techniques With Scapular Motor Training in Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis | 2026-12-31 |
| NCT07905417University of Management and Technology LahoreEffects of Posterior Capsular Stretching With and Without Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises in Frozen Shoulder | 2026-12-31 |
Among the 86 studies in Bursitis with a site in Pakistan, from their registry updates:
Adhesive capsulitis is a debilitating shoulder condition characterized by pain, restricted range of motion (ROM), and significant functional limitations. Conventional treatment primarily targets the glenohumeral joint, often neglecting the role of regional interdependence, particularly the thoracic spine's influence on shoulder mobility. Emerging evidence suggests that thoracic spine mobility plays a crucial role in optimizing shoulder mechanics, yet its therapeutic application in adhesive capsulitis remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the additional effects of thoracic spine mobilization combined with glenohumeral joint mobilization, providing a more comprehensive rehabilitation approach to enhance pain relief, ROM, and functional outcomes.
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted over one year at the Rehabilitation Department of Fauji Foundation Hospital (FFH) after obtaining ethical approval. Participants diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis will be selected through non-probability purposive sampling based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subjects will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group receiving thoracic spine mobilization alongside glenohumeral joint mobilization or the control group receiving glenohumeral joint mobilization alone. Randomization will be conducted using the coin toss method and block randomization to ensure balanced subject distribution.
Outcome measures include the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for pain assessment, the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) for functional disability evaluation, and a goniometer for ROM measurement. Baseline and post-treatment scores will be statistically analyzed using SPSS to determine intervention effectiveness. By integrating thoracic spine mobilization into standard treatment, this study seeks to refine clinical rehabilitation protocols, improve functional recovery, and enhance patient outcomes. Findings may contribute to evidence-based practice, supporting the inclusion of thoracic spine mobilization in treatment guidelines for adhesive capsulitis.
Adhesive capsulitis, widely known as frozen shoulder, is a progressive musculoskeletal condition characterized by shoulder pain, restricted range of motion (ROM), and marked functional limitations. Traditional treatment approaches have largely focused on mobilization techniques directed at the glenohumeral joint, aiming to reduce capsular tightness and restore movement. While this is effective to some degree, it does not fully address the concept of regional interdependence, where dysfunction in adjacent regions, particularly the thoracic spine, may influence shoulder function. The thoracic spine plays a vital role in maintaining optimal shoulder kinematics by supporting scapular positioning, facilitating overhead motion, and reducing compensatory stress on the glenohumeral joint. Stiffness or hypomobility in this region may therefore perpetuate pain and mechanical restriction in adhesive capsulitis. Treatment strategies that combine glenohumeral joint mobilization with thoracic spine mobilization have the potential to provide superior outcomes compared to conventional therapy alone. Thoracic mobilization techniques, including central and unilateral posterior-anterior glides, enhance spinal extension and rotation, indirectly improving scapular mobility and shoulder elevation. When paired with targeted glenohumeral mobilizations such as anterior, posterior, and inferior glides, patients may experience greater improvements in pain relief, ROM, and functional ability. These three variables-pain, ROM, and functional disability-are critical in determining treatment effectiveness. By incorporating thoracic mobilization into standard rehabilitation, clinicians may adopt a more holistic approach that enhances recovery, promotes long-term function, and improves the quality of life for individuals with adhesive capsulitis.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Both male and female patients with a primary complaint of unilateral or bilateral shoulder pain
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients if they had any shoulder pain resulting from systematic disease such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (morning stiffness > 1 hour, multiple small joints pain/swelling) Infection, Tumors, and conditions like myelopathy (Hoffman's sign).
Participant receive Thoracic spine mobilization with Glenohumeral joint mobilization to enhance shoulder mechanics and outcomes
Procedure: Thoracic spine mobilization with Glenohumeral joint mobilization
Participant receive Glenohumeral joint mobilization only to enhance shoulder mechanics and outcomes
Procedure: Glenohumeral joint mobilization only
Thoracic spine mobilization: Central posterior-anterior (PA) oscillatory mobilizations in prone position; 30 repetitions per set, with a 1-minute rest between 2 sets. Glenohumeral joint mobilization: Oscillatory techniques, 2-3 oscillations per second for 30 seconds, repeated for 5 sets.
Glenohumeral joint mobilization only Technique: Oscillatory mobilizations, 2-3 oscillations per second for 30 seconds, repeated for 5 sets.
Pain Intensity
Pain intensity will be checked by Numeric pain rating scale NPRS, where patient will rate pain from 0 to 10, 0 being no pain and 10 means worst pain.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Functional disability
Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) used to assess functional disability and it is 13-question survey (5 pain, 8 disability) on a 0-100 scale, where 0 is best (no pain/difficulty) and 100 is worst (severe pain/complete disability), indicating higher scores mean greater impairment; it's interpreted by looking at general ranges (0-20 mild, 21-40 moderate, etc.) and tracking changes (a 10-20 point shift suggests clinical significance) to gauge treatment effectiveness.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Shoulder Range of Motion
Goniometer used to measure shoulder joint range of motion.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Started Jan 2025 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2025, 11 months after the start.
Of 217 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Bursitis, half reached primary completion within 10 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 17. This study's planned 11 months is close to that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 217 studies reached it within 10 months; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 17.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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