Effects of Deltoid Strengthening Exercises in Patients With Adhesive Capsulitis

June 8, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Effects of Deltoid Strengthening Exercises on Pain, Range of Motion, Muscle Strength and Disability in Patients With Adhesive Capsulitis

Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder, is a musculoskeletal condition that causes significant shoulder pain and restricted joint mobility. It affects the glenohumeral joint and is commonly seen in individuals between the ages of 40 and 60 year. It affects 3 to 5% of the general population with a higher prevalence among females and patients with diabetes or thyroid disorders. Adhesive capsulitis progresses in four stages: painful, freezing, frozen, and thawing, and the condition may persist for 1 to 2 years. This study aims to determine the effects of Deltoid Strengthening Exercises on pain, range of motion, muscle strength and disability in patients with Adhesive Capsulitis.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study will be a Randomized Controlled Trial and will be conducted in Physiotherapy Outpatient Department of Tehsil Head Quarter Hospital, Daska. Non-Probability Convenience Sampling will be used to collect the data. A sample of subjects aged 40 to 60 years with stage II and III adhesive capsulitis will be selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Outcome measures will include Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for pain, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) for disability, Goniometer for Range of Motion, and Arm Abduction and Lowering Test for muscle strength. 48 subjects will be divided into two groups, 24 in each group by random number generator table. Both groups will receive a standard physical therapy protocol consisting of Ultrasound, Glenohumeral Mobilization and Home Exercises. In addition to standard physical therapy protocol, Group A will receive Deltoid Strengthening Exercises: Week 1: Isometric exercises (1×10 reps); Week 2 : Theraband exercises (1×10 reps); Week 3 - Dumbbell exercises with 1 kg (1×10 reps) and Week 4: Dumbbell exercises with 1.5 kg (1×10 reps), targeting anterior, middle, and posterior Deltoid. Group B will receive only the standard physiotherapy protocol without strengthening. Outcome measures will be measured at baseline and after 4 weeks. Data analysis will be done by SPSS version 25.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
48

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • • Both male and female gender

    • Subjects with age ranging from 40 to 60 years
    • Subjects with stage II and III adhesive capsulitis

Exclusion Criteria:

  • • Subjects with rotator cuff tears

    • Subjects with glenohumeral arthritis

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Deltoid strengthening exercises

Deltoid Strengthening Exercises:

  • Deltoid Isometrics
  • Dumb bell Strengthening Exercises
  • Theraband Strengthening Exercises
Other: Exercises

a) Deltoid Isometrics

The following isometrics of Deltoid will be performed:

  • Anterior Deltoid: Front Raise Isometrics Isometrics of Anterior Deltoid will be performed. The arm is raised to 90 shoulder flexion. The elbows are slightly flexed (5 degrees) while the subject is pushing isometric upward against manual resistance provided by the therapist
  • Middle Deltoid: Lateral Raise Isometrics The arm will be abducted to the horizontal position. The humerus is slightly flexed about thirty degrees while the elbows are kept in a static, slightly flexed position. The arms are lifted isometric upward against resistance provided by the therapist
  • Posterior Deltoid: Reverse Fly Isometrics The participant sits on a chair with trunk bent from the horizontal with the arms pointing toward the floor. The arms are raised until the upper arms are horizontal, while the elbows were in a static, slightly flexed position. The subject pushes upward against resistance provided by the therapist
Active Comparator: Standard Physical therapy
Ultrasound Glenohumeral Distraction Manual therapy Codman's Pendulum Exercise Finger Ladder exercise Wand Exercise
Other: Standard Physical therapy
Ultrasound Glenohumeral Distraction Manual therapy Codman's Pendulum Exercise Finger Ladder exercise Wand Exercise

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain-Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Time Frame: upto 4 weeks
In current study, patients with Adhesive Capsulitis having Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) score of greater or equal to 3 and less than 7 will be included. Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is used to measure pain levels in all subjects. NPRS is self-reported, single-dimensional 11 point scale between 0 and 10. The NPRS has a moderate test-retest reliability in patients with a primary complaint of shoulder pain with ICC=0.74, MCID of 1.1 points and MDC of 2.5 points.
upto 4 weeks
Disability-Shoulder Pain and Disability Index
Time Frame: upto 4 weeks
Patients with Adhesive Capsulitis having Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) score of 41 to 60 will be included in the current study. The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) is used for measuring the level of disability in patients. This self-administered index consists of 13 items divided into two subscales: 5 items for pain and 8 items for disability. It is a practical outcome measure that will be completed by patients in less than 5 min and will be scored by clinician. It has a high internal consistency with Cronbach α typically exceeding 0.90 and a good test-retest reliability with ICC values ranging from 0.84 to 0.95. When the SPADI is used more than once on the same subject i.e. at initial consultation and then at discharge, the minimal detectible change (MDC 95%) is 18 points
upto 4 weeks
Range of motion-Universal Goniometer
Time Frame: upto 4 weeks
Adhesive capsulitis' patients have a capsular pattern of restriction of glenohumeral joint. Universal goniometer (UG) will be used to measure external rotation, internal rotation, abduction and flexion. Universal Goniometer is defined as a high-resolution plastic goniometer that permits observation of the axis of motion and ROM of the joint being measured. UG has been considered the gold standard for clinical assessment of ROM. It has a good reliability for AROM with ICC ranging from 0.53 to 0.65, and SEM calculated to be 14-25.
upto 4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Riphah International University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Noha Arshad, MSPT*, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 6, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 6, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 6, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 1, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 8, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 8, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • REC/RCR&AHS/25/0115 Noha

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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