Comparison of Digital and Conventional Physical Therapy on Cost Effectiveness, Pain, and Disability in Adhesive Capsulitis

Adhesive capsulitis is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by shoulder pain, progressive stiffness, and functional limitation, significantly affecting activities of daily living and quality of life. Physical therapy plays a key role in the management of adhesive capsulitis through pain reduction, restoration of range of motion, and improvement of functional capacity. With the advancement of digital health technologies, digital physical therapy interventions such as tele-rehabilitation and app-guided exercise programs have emerged as potential alternatives to conventional in-person therapy.

However, evidence comparing the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of digital physical therapy with conventional physical therapy remains limited, particularly in patients with adhesive capsulitis.

Therefore, this randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of digital physical therapy and conventional physical therapy on pain intensity, functional disability, and cost-effectiveness among patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis. Participants will be randomly allocated to either a digital physical therapy group, receiving supervised exercise guidance and monitoring through digital platforms, or a conventional physical therapy group receiving standard in-clinic physiotherapy interventions.

Pain and disability outcomes will be assessed using validated outcome measures such as the Visual Analog Scale and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. Cost-effectiveness will be evaluated by comparing treatment-related direct and indirect costs between both groups.

The findings of this study will help determine whether digital physical therapy is a clinically effective and economically viable alternative to conventional physiotherapy for managing adhesive capsulitis, potentially improving accessibility to rehabilitation services.