Effect of Spencer Muscle Energy Technique on pain and functional disability in cases of adhesive capsulitis of shoulder joint

Background: Adhesive capsulitis is characterized by a painful, gradual loss of both active and passive glenohumeral motion resulting from progressive fibrosis and ultimate contracture of the glenohumeral joint capsule. Patients with Adhesive capsulitis have difficulties in everyday activities (dressing, grooming, and performing overhead reaching activities and so on for a period of several months to several years) and shoulder pain disturbing sleep at night on the affected side. Muscle energy technique helps in increasing shoulder range of motion. MET is unique in its application as the client provides the initial effort while the practitioner facilitates the process. One of the main uses of this method is to normalize joint range, rather than increase flexibility, and techniques can be used on any joints with restricted Range of Motion (ROM) identified during the passive assessment. So the study was done to evaluate the effect of MET on adhesive capsulitis. Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Spencer MET on Pain and Functional Disability in Adhesive Capsulitis of Shoulder joint. Materials and methods: An Interventional study was conducted at Out Patient Department of General Hospitals in Ahmedabad. The subjects were selected according to inclusion criteria. The Pre-training outcome of Pain (VAS) and SPADI was taken and then subjects were divided into two groups' one case and other control. Group A: was given conventional treatment along with MET for adhesive capsulitis. Group B: not getting any additional training for adhesive capsulitis other than conventional treatment. The study was conducted for 6 months and treatment was given for 4 weeks 3 days a week and once a day. After 4 weeks post treatment outcome data were analysed for results. Results: Data was analysed using SPSS software version 20 and Microsoft Excel 2007. In case and control both pain (VAS), SPADI showed significant improvement (p; 0.05). But there was more significant improvement in case as compared to control group in SPADI but not in VAS. Conclusion: The Spencer MET is more effective increasing functional ability in patients with adhesive capsulitis as compared to conventional treatment.