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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07704411

The Effect of Osteopathic Visceral Manipulation on Pain, Mobility and Functional Disability in Patients With Right Shoulder Adhesive Capsulitis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding osteopathic visceral manipulation (OVM) to a standard physical therapy program on pain, functional disability, and range of motion (ROM) in patients diagnosed with right shoulder adhesive capsulitis (AC). A total of 49 patients aged between 40 and 65 years who were diagnosed with right shoulder AC were included in the study. Randomized patients received a standard physical therapy program for three weeks, consisting of 15 sessions (5 days per week) in both treatment groups. The standard program included hot pack application to the shoulder region for 20 min, conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for 20 min, and ultrasound therapy at 1.5 W/cm² for 10 min. In addition to the standard physical therapy program, Group 1 (n=25) received OVM once weekly, while Group 2 (n=24) received sham OVM once weekly. Pain was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), while functional disability was evaluated using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPDI). The ROM values were also recorded.

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Key information

Conditions

Shoulder Adhesive Capsulitis Bursitis Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Goztepe Suleyman Yalcin Sehir Hastanesi Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Klinigi

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age between 18 and 65 years
  • Presence of pain originating from the right shoulder region persisting for at least 6 weeks
  • Availability of two-view shoulder radiographs obtained prior to the study to exclude causes of shoulder pain other than AC
  • No local corticosteroid injection for shoulder pain within the previous 6 months
  • No physical therapy administered for shoulder pain within the previous 6 months
  • No use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during the study period
  • Availability of laboratory assessments including:
  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
  • Liver function tests (AST, ALT)
  • C-reactive protein (CRP)
  • Pain intensity score of at least 4 cm on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS, 0-10 cm)

Exclusion criteria

  • History of shoulder fracture on the affected side
  • Prior shoulder surgery
  • History of traumatic shoulder instability (subluxation or dislocation)
  • History of shoulder or visceral organ surgery within the past 6 months
  • History of systemic or inflammatory disease or malignancy
  • Presence of metabolic or endocrine bone disease
  • Pregnancy
  • Neurological disorders affecting upper extremity function
  • Psychiatric disorders that could interfere with treatment compliance or symptom evaluation
  • Use of antiplatelet medication
  • Previous osteopathic treatment

Treatment and study plan

physical therapy program

Other

In the OVM group, mobilization of the liver and diaphragm was performed. Liver mobilization was applied in three planes (coronal, transverse, and sagittal) for 5 min each, totaling 15 min, while the diaphragm technique was applied for 2 min.

Sham (No Treatment)

Other

In the sham OVM group, light pressure and touch were applied with the palm over the same points selected for OVM, without the intention of providing therapeutic effect.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain (VAS)

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Active shoulder ROM for abduction, flexion, internal rotation, and external rotation

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks

  2. Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istanbul Medeniyet University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jul 15, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 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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