Combined Effects of Manual Therapy on the Shoulder

University of Hartford

Status: Completed

Conditions: Manual Therapies; Range of Motion; Shoulder Joint Disorder

Treatments: Other: posterior glide mobilization; Other: thoracic manipulation; Other: Sleeper stretch

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04777370

PRO2021000105

Details and patient eligibility

About

Interventions including glenohumeral mobilization, sleeper stretches, and thoracic manipulation have been proposed for individuals with loss of shoulder range of motion (ROM). However, the effect of these interventions on shoulder ROM, joint translation, and muscular activity have not been studied in combination.

Full description

Forty individuals with a loss of internal rotation (IR) ROM will be recruited and randomized to one of two interventions at the first session: either posterior glenohumeral mobilization or internal rotation "sleeper" stretching. At the second visit, all participants will undergo a thoracic manipulation (T3-4 segment) followed by a repeat of either the sleeper stretch or glenohumeral mobilization.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• loss of IR of 15 degrees of greater compared to contralateral shoulder

Exclusion criteria

• currently neck/upper back pain,
• history of spinal fractures,
• numbness/altered sensation of the arms or legs,
• whiplash injury within the prior 6 weeks,
• infections of the spine,
• currently pregnant/possibly pregnant,
• known osteoporosis,
• Rheumatoid arthritis,
• previous spine surgery,
• currently receiving Workman's Compensation,
• any pending litigation regarding a neck or shoulder injury,
• history of oral corticosteroids in the prior 6 months,
• history of shoulder fractures,
• Current treatment for cancer,
• Prior history of cancer involving the spine/shoulder,
• any history of coagulation disorders.
• Individuals with a history of shoulder surgery will reviewed on a case by case basis.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Sequential Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

sleeper stretch + thoracic manipulation

Experimental group

Description:

The group will receive the sleeper stretch at session #1, and a thoracic manipulation followed by the sleeper stretch at session #2.

Treatment:

Other: thoracic manipulation

Other: Sleeper stretch

posterior glenohumeral (PG) mobilization + thoracic manipulation

Experimental group

Description:

The group will receive a posterior glide mobilization at session #1, and a thoracic manipulation followed by posterior glide mobilization at session #2.

Treatment:

Other: thoracic manipulation

Other: posterior glide mobilization