Comparison of Spencer Technique and Isotonic Exercises in Patients with Adhesive Capsulitis

Background: Adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as frozen shoulder, is a debilitating condition characterized by pain and restricted range of motion, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. While various interventions exist, the comparative effectiveness of manual therapy techniques like the Spencer technique and exercise-based approaches such as isotonic exercises remains underexplored. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of the Spencer technique and isotonic exercises in improving pain, range of motion, and functional disability in patients with adhesive capsulitis. Methodology: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at Dar-ul-Shifa Hospital and Saleem Free Hospital, Okara. Ethical approval was obtained from the university's ethics committee, and all participants provided written informed consent. Fifty-six participants with unilateral adhesive capsulitis, aged 30 to 55, were randomly assigned to either the Spencer technique group or the isotonic exercise group (28 in each group). Both groups received interventions three times a week for six weeks. Pain was assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, range of motion and functional disability index were measured using a standardized manual goniometer. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23, with descriptive statistics presented through means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages. The Shapiro-Wilk test assessed data normality, and parametric tests such as ANOVA analyzed within-group changes. Results: Both interventions demonstrated significant improvements in pain reduction, range of motion, and functional disability over the six weeks. Pain scores decreased from 7.04 to 4.75, and range of motion improved from 102.65° to 122.25°, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: The Spencer technique and isotonic exercises are equally effective in managing adhesive capsulitis, providing clinicians with flexible treatment options based on patient preference and clinical feasibility.