Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07258368

Gong Mobilization Versus Spencer Technique for Diabetic Frozen Shoulder

The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to find the comparative effect of spencer technique and gong mobilization on pain, range of motion and functional disability among diabetic frozen shoulder patients.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Frozen Shoulder Bursitis Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

40 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

HBS General Hospital

Islamabad, Punjab Province, Pakistan

About this study

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by progressive pain, stiffness, and significant restriction of both active and passive range of motion in the shoulder joint. The condition typically progresses through three stages: the painful or freezing stage, marked by increasing pain and stiffness; the frozen or adhesive stage, where pain may subside but stiffness persists; and the thawing stage, during which mobility gradually improves. Risk factors include age, gender (more common in women), trauma, prolonged immobilization, and systemic conditions such as diabetes mellitus. Studies suggest Gong mobilization may offer superior ROM gains, while the Spencer technique provides significant long-term benefits, especially when combined with conventional therapy. Treatment effectiveness can vary, indicating a need for approaches tailored to individual patient factors and condition stage. This is particularly relevant for diabetic patients, who often experience slower, more complex recoveries.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients with HbA1c ≥6.5% will be included.
  • Patients diagnosed with frozen shoulder stage II, will be included.

Exclusion criteria

  • Receiving other clinical trials that could interfere with the outcomes of this study.
  • Subject with recent history of surgery on affected shoulder
  • Subject with history of any trauma/fracture around shoulder complex
  • Subject with rotator cuff lesion and tendon calcification.
  • Patients contraindicated to joint mobilization

Treatment and study plan

Spencer Technique + Conventional Treatment

Other

The Spencer Technique is an osteopathic shoulder mobilization performed with the patient lying on the unaffected side and the therapist stabilizing the scapula while moving the humerus. It consists of a sequence of seven articulatory steps: shoulder extension, flexion, circumduction with compression, circumduction with traction, abduction with internal rotation, internal rotation (hand behind back), and abduction with external rotation. Each movement is performed rhythmically at the end range to stretch the joint capsule, improve mobility, and reduce pain (Frequency: Over the course of 3 days, the exercise was repeated 3 times per session). Conventional PT: Hot pack = 15 mins, Home Plan: Pendulum Stretch, Cross-Body Arm Reach, Towel Stretch, Finger Walk (Wall Climb), External Rotation Stretch, Shoulder Blade Squeeze, Overhead Shoulder Stretch.

Gong Mobilization + Conventional Treatment

Other

The shoulder joint was turned upward as the patient was positioned in a side-lying posture. The patient had a 90-degree abduction of the shoulder to keep the humerus upright, and the elbow was 90 degrees flexed. Now the therapist held one hand of the patient to apply pressure to the humeral head from anterior to posterior while maintaining the position of the elbow at 90 degrees. The therapist then raised their own body while softly pushing on the shoulder joint's articular capsule. To retain the humerus' vertical axis, they achieved this while keeping shoulder abduction and elbow flexion at 90 degrees. The procedure was finished in about two to three minutes, and the articular capsule was gently squeezed for 10-15 seconds, and then relaxed for five seconds. After slightly stretching the capsule, the therapist applied gentle pressure with one hand on the shoulder joint from anterior to posterior. Maitland grades 3,4 then performed and then grade 4 approach for stretching for secs.

Primary outcomes

  1. The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)

    Time frame: 3 weeks

    It is a self-reported questionnaire designed to measure pain and functional disability in individuals with shoulder conditions, such as frozen shoulder or rotator cuff injuries. It consists of two subscales: pain and disability, providing a comprehensive assessment of shoulder function.

  2. Numeric Pain Rating Scale

    Time frame: 3 weeks

    The NPRS is a segmented numeric version of the visual analog scale which is used to assess pain. It scores ranges from 0-10, 0 means No pain and 10 means Severe pain. Patient will be asked to verbally report the pain score.

  3. Goniometer for range of motion

    Time frame: 3 weeks

    A goniometer is a standard clinical tool for objectively measuring joint range of motion (ROM). It demonstrates high validity, correlating strongly (r > 0.90) with advanced motion analysis systems. Its reliability is also excellent, with high intra-rater (ICC > 0.90) and inter-rater (ICC 0.85-0.99) scores. This makes it a dependable instrument for both assessing patients and guiding treatment in rehabilitation and research.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Riphah International University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Comparative Effect of Gong Mobilization and Spencer Technique in the Management of Frozen Shoulder Among Diabetic Patients

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Dec 2, 2025
Registry last updated
Mar 6, 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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.