Pain Neuroscience Education and Graded Motor Imagery Combined With Conventional Physiotherapy on Diabetic Adhesive Capsulitis

August 10, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Effects of Pain Neuroscience Education and Graded Motor Imagery Combined With Conventional Physiotherapy on Pain, Kinesiophobia, and Functional Disability in Diabetic Adhesive Capsulitis

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) and Graded Motor Imagery (GMI) combined with conventional physiotherapy on pain, kinesiophobia, central sensitization, functional disability, range of motion, and quality of life in patients with Type II diabetic adhesive capsulitis. Adhesive capsulitis is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by pain and progressive restriction of shoulder movement, particularly among individuals with diabetes mellitus. Conventional physiotherapy is widely used to restore shoulder mobility and function; however, it may not adequately address central sensitization and fear of movement. Pain Neuroscience Education aims to improve patients' understanding of pain mechanisms and reduce maladaptive beliefs, while Graded Motor Imagery targets cortical reorganization and movement-related fear. The combination of these interventions with conventional physiotherapy may improve clinical outcomes and enhance quality of life.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study is a randomized controlled trial with a parallel-group design to evaluate the effectiveness of Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) and Graded Motor Imagery (GMI) combined with conventional physiotherapy in patients with Type II diabetic adhesive capsulitis. A total of 50 participants meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be recruited using a non-probability convenience sampling technique and randomly allocated into two groups.

  • Experimental Group: Participants will receive Pain Neuroscience Education, Graded Motor Imagery, and conventional physiotherapy.
  • Control Group: Participants will receive conventional physiotherapy alone. Both groups will undergo treatment for 6 weeks, with three treatment sessions per week. The experimental intervention will include weekly Pain Neuroscience Education sessions, progressive Graded Motor Imagery (laterality recognition, motor imagery, and mirror therapy), along with conventional physiotherapy consisting of joint mobilization, stretching, strengthening, range-of-motion exercises, and functional training.

Outcome assessments will be performed at baseline (Week 0), mid-treatment (Week 3), and post-treatment (Week 6). The primary outcome measures will include pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale), shoulder range of motion (Universal Goniometer), functional disability (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index), kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia), and central sensitization (Central Sensitization Inventory). Quality of life will be assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. The findings of this study will determine whether adding Pain Neuroscience Education and Graded Motor Imagery to conventional physiotherapy provides superior improvements in pain, psychological outcomes, functional ability, and quality of life compared with conventional physiotherapy alone.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Capital Territory
      • Islamabad, Capital Territory, Pakistan, 44000
        • RIPHAH International hospital Islamabad
        • Contact:
          • Dr. Mirza Obaid Baig Assistant professor/HOD Clinical Faculty of FRAHS Islamabad
          • Phone Number: +92 333-2238706
    • Punjab Province
      • Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 46000
        • IIMCT-Railway General Hospital
        • Contact:
          • Dr. Mirza Obaid Baig Assistant Professor/HOD Clinical FRAHS
          • Phone Number: +92 333-2238706

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed cases of adhesive capsulitis (Stage I or II)
  • Diagnosed with Type II Diabetes Mellitus
  • Age between 40-65 years
  • Shoulder pain lasting more than 3 months
  • Limited shoulder range of motion.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previous shoulder surgery
  • History of fracture or dislocation of shoulder
  • Cervical radiculopathy
  • Neurological disorders
  • Severe diabetic complications
  • Cognitive impairments.

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: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Group (PNE + GMI + Conventional Physiotherapy)
Participants assigned to the experimental group will receive Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) and Graded Motor Imagery (GMI) combined with conventional physiotherapy. The intervention will be delivered over 6 weeks, with three supervised treatment sessions per week. Pain Neuroscience Education will address pain neurophysiology, central sensitization, fear-avoidance beliefs, coping strategies, and self-management. Graded Motor Imagery will include laterality recognition, motor imagery, and mirror therapy, progressing according to the treatment protocol. Conventional physiotherapy will consist of shoulder range-of-motion exercises, joint mobilization, stretching, strengthening, proprioceptive training, functional exercises, and activity-specific rehabilitation.
Behavioral: Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE)
Structured educational sessions designed to improve patients' understanding of pain neurophysiology, central sensitization, pain coping strategies, and self-management.
Other Names:
  • Arm/group, experimental (PNE)
Behavioral: Graded Motor Imagery (GMI)
Progressive intervention consisting of laterality recognition, explicit motor imagery, and mirror therapy to improve cortical reorganization, reduce kinesiophobia, and restore shoulder function.
Other: Conventional Physiotherapy
Conventional physiotherapy including shoulder range-of-motion exercises, stretching, joint mobilization, strengthening, proprioceptive training, scapular stabilization, and functional exercises.
Active Comparator: Control Group (Conventional Physiotherapy)
Participants assigned to the control group will receive conventional physiotherapy alone for 6 weeks, with three supervised treatment sessions per week. Treatment will include pain relief modalities, shoulder range-of-motion exercises, stretching, joint mobilization, strengthening exercises, proprioceptive exercises, functional training, and activity-specific rehabilitation without Pain Neuroscience Education or Graded Motor Imagery.
Other: Conventional Physiotherapy
Conventional physiotherapy including shoulder range-of-motion exercises, stretching, joint mobilization, strengthening, proprioceptive training, scapular stabilization, and functional exercises.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain intensity measured by Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is a self-reported outcome measure used to assess pain intensity in musculoskeletal and rehabilitation settings. The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst imaginable pain".
Baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6
Shoulder Pain and Disability Measured by the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI).
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6
Functional disability will be evaluated using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) is a self-administered questionnaire developed to assess pain and functional disability associated with shoulder disorders, particularly adhesive capsulitis and other musculoskeletal shoulder conditions. The SPADI consists of 13 items divided into two subscales: a pain subscale containing 5 items and a disability subscale containing 8 items. Each item is scored using a numerical rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 represents "no pain" or "no difficulty" and 10 represents "worst pain imaginable". Higher scores indicate greater pain and disability.
Baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6
Shoulder Range of Motion Measured Using a Universal Goniometer
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6
Active shoulder range of motion (flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation) will be measured using a universal goniometer.
Baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6
Kinesiophobia Measured by the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-17).
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6
Kinesiophobia will be assessed using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-17).The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) is a self-reported questionnaire used to assess fear of movement, fear of reinjury, and avoidance behaviors associated with pain and musculoskeletal disorders.The most commonly used version is the TSK-17, which consists of 17 items assessing beliefs related to physical activity and movement-related fear. Each item is scored on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 4 ("strongly agree"). The total score ranges from 17 to 68, with higher scores indicating greater levels of kinesiophobia and fear-avoidance behavior.
Baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6
Central Sensitization Measured by the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI).
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6
Central sensitization will be assessed using the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI). The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) is a self-reported questionnaire developed to identify symptoms associated with central sensitization in individuals with chronic pain disorders. The CSI consists of 25 items that assess health-related symptoms commonly associated with central sensitization syndromes. Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 ("never") to 4 ("always"). Higher scores indicate greater symptoms related to central sensitization.
Baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Health-Related Quality of Life Measured by the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36).
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6
The Short Form-36 (SF-36) is a widely used self-reported questionnaire designed to assess health-related quality of life in individuals with acute and chronic health conditions. The SF-36 consists of 36 items divided into eight health domains: physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health, bodily pain, general health perceptions, vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health. Each domain score is transformed into a scale ranging from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life.
Baseline (Week 0), Week 3, and Week 6

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Riphah International University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Huma Riaz, Riphah International University, Islamabad

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)

August 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 10, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 10, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

August 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 10, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Rasheeda

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because the data are confidential and were collected solely for the purposes of this research study. Participant privacy and institutional policies will be maintained.

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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