Investigation of a Consistent Pattern of Motion Restriction in Patients with Adhesive Capsulitis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis for the presence of a measurable pattern of capsular restriction. Thirty patients receiving physical therapy at an outpatient clinic in the Indianapolis, Indiana area were included in the study. Exclusion criterion were (1) conditions affecting glenohumeral ROM of the uninvolved shoulder, (2) history of rheumatoid arthritis or mastectomy, and (3) symptoms due to trauma. Each subject's involved and uninvolved shoulder abduction (ABD), external rotation (ER), and internal rotation (IR) measurements were taken with an MIE fluid inclinometer and goniometer. The involved limb's percentage of motion of the uninvolved limb was determined for each of the three measures. Dependent t-tests were used to determine the differences between the involved and uninvolved limbs. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare differences across motion. Results showed that the involved limb had significantly less motion than the involved limb across all motions (F=13.692, p=.00). Post-hoc analysis showed that ER was significantly limited when compared to IR and ABD, while ABD and IR were not seen to be different.

Keywords:

• ADHESIVE CAPSULITIS
• FROZEN SHOULDER
• CAPSULAR PATTERN
• SHOULDER ROM