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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07816679

GDS Method for Frozen Shoulder

This randomized exploratory clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of the GDS Muscle and Joint Chains Method compared with conventional physiotherapy in patients with frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis). Thirty participants were randomly assigned to either the GDS intervention group or the conventional physiotherapy control group. Both interventions consisted of eight 50-minute sessions administered twice weekly for four weeks. The primary therapeutic objectives were to improve shoulder range of motion and reduce pain. Shoulder mobility was assessed using goniometry, and pain intensity was evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale. The study hypothesized that the GDS Muscle and Joint Chains Method would produce greater improvements in shoulder mobility and pain than conventional physiotherapy.

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Key information

Conditions

Adhesive Capsulitis Bursitis Frozen Shoulder Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Universidad Anahuac México

Huixquilucan, State of Mexico, 52786, Mexico

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age >18 years.
  • Diagnosis of frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) established by a specialist in Traumatology and Orthopedics.
  • Referral to the physiotherapy service.
  • No current therapeutic assistance.
  • Pharmacological treatment with NSAIDs and subacromial infiltration.
  • Acceptance and signing of informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • Contraindication to electrotherapy.
  • Pacemaker.
  • Metallic osteosynthesis material.
  • Skin disorders in the area where electrodes would be applied.
  • Current therapeutic assistance.

Treatment and study plan

GDS Muscle and Joint Chains Method

Other

Participants received eight 50-minute sessions of the GDS Muscle and Joint Chains Method, administered twice weekly for four weeks. Treatment was individualized according to the participant's typology and included muscle reprogramming, postural and movement retraining, manual techniques applied along muscle-chain pathways, passive stretching, isometric and eccentric muscle activation, proprioceptive techniques, and strategies aimed at restoring balance between antagonistic and complementary muscle chains. Shoulder range of motion and pain intensity were assessed before and after the four-week intervention.

Conventional Physiotherapy

Other

Participants received eight 50-minute conventional physiotherapy sessions administered twice weekly for four weeks. Treatment included application of a hot compress to the affected shoulder, 15 minutes of conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) at 150 Hz with intensity adjusted to participant tolerance, 10 minutes of therapeutic ultrasound at 3 MHz and 0.8 W/cm² in pulsed mode at 50%, followed by 15 minutes of therapeutic exercise according to the MEDBRIDGE GO program. Shoulder range of motion and pain intensity were assessed before and after the intervention.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Shoulder Range of Motion

    Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks

    Shoulder range of motion was measured in degrees using goniometry. Measurements included shoulder flexion, abduction, internal rotation, external rotation at 90° of abduction, and external rotation at 0°.

  2. Change in Pain Intensity

    Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks

    Pain intensity was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale ranging from 0 to 10, with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing the greatest pain intensity.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Anahuac University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

GDS Muscle Chain Method Improved Movement and Pain Recovery in Frozen Shoulder Patients: An Exploratory Clinical Trial

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Sep 14, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 15, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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