Effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern on upper extremity and scapula in patients with adhesive capsulitis: a single-centre assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT)
Abstract Background Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is a progressive inflammatory condition of the shoulder that causes functional limitations and leads to long-term disability. The study aimed to elicit the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) compared to standard physiotherapy...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Trials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08848-0 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850284742838059008 |
|---|---|
| author | Abid Hasan Khan Md. Saruar Hossain Bhuiyan Md. Feroz Kabir Md. Zahid Hossain Sharmila Jahan K M Amran Hossain Ehsanur Rahman |
| author_facet | Abid Hasan Khan Md. Saruar Hossain Bhuiyan Md. Feroz Kabir Md. Zahid Hossain Sharmila Jahan K M Amran Hossain Ehsanur Rahman |
| author_sort | Abid Hasan Khan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is a progressive inflammatory condition of the shoulder that causes functional limitations and leads to long-term disability. The study aimed to elicit the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) compared to standard physiotherapy approaches on AC. Methods An assessor-blinded single-centre randomised control trial (RCT) was carried out on 80 AC patients between May 2022 and December 2023 in Bangladesh. Random assigned and concealed allocated patients were recruited equally (n = 40) to each PNF and conventional capsular stretching group. The experimental group received a PNF approach, and the control group received capsular stretching to the affected shoulder for 24 sessions in 6 weeks. Both groups received electrical modalities as standard treatment. The primary outcome was pain measured by the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and range of motion in a universal goniometer. The secondary outcome was functional limitation measured by the shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI). As per the distribution of data, non-parametric tests were employed to analyse the superiority between and within groups with intention-to-treat analysis. Results Baseline compatibility was noted in all the key variables (p > 0.05). Both PNF and capsular stretching had a decrease in pain compared to baseline in all capsular pattern positions (p < 0.001), and PNF had more significant improvement compared to control (p < 0.001). Both groups had equal improvement in shoulder ROM (p < 0.001) except abduction (p < 0.05). Both groups had improvements in disability (p < 0.05), and PNF had statistical superiority of improvement (p < 0.001). Conclusions The findings of this study support the potential of PNF intervention for 6 weeks as a treatment for shoulder adhesive capsulitis, showing improvements in pain, ROM and functional disability. However, further multicentre trials with a follow-up design are needed to fully understand the superiority of PNF on shoulder AC, encouraging continued engagement in this area of research. Trial registration The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12621001299897). Registered on 27 September 2021, prospectively registered. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-20a44d87dca34fbc86382fb9b476e16d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1745-6215 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Trials |
| spelling | doaj-art-20a44d87dca34fbc86382fb9b476e16d2025-08-20T01:47:29ZengBMCTrials1745-62152025-05-0126111110.1186/s13063-025-08848-0Effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern on upper extremity and scapula in patients with adhesive capsulitis: a single-centre assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT)Abid Hasan Khan0Md. Saruar Hossain Bhuiyan1Md. Feroz Kabir2Md. Zahid Hossain3Sharmila Jahan4K M Amran Hossain5Ehsanur Rahman6Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST)Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST)Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST)Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST)Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST)Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST)Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST)Abstract Background Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is a progressive inflammatory condition of the shoulder that causes functional limitations and leads to long-term disability. The study aimed to elicit the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) compared to standard physiotherapy approaches on AC. Methods An assessor-blinded single-centre randomised control trial (RCT) was carried out on 80 AC patients between May 2022 and December 2023 in Bangladesh. Random assigned and concealed allocated patients were recruited equally (n = 40) to each PNF and conventional capsular stretching group. The experimental group received a PNF approach, and the control group received capsular stretching to the affected shoulder for 24 sessions in 6 weeks. Both groups received electrical modalities as standard treatment. The primary outcome was pain measured by the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and range of motion in a universal goniometer. The secondary outcome was functional limitation measured by the shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI). As per the distribution of data, non-parametric tests were employed to analyse the superiority between and within groups with intention-to-treat analysis. Results Baseline compatibility was noted in all the key variables (p > 0.05). Both PNF and capsular stretching had a decrease in pain compared to baseline in all capsular pattern positions (p < 0.001), and PNF had more significant improvement compared to control (p < 0.001). Both groups had equal improvement in shoulder ROM (p < 0.001) except abduction (p < 0.05). Both groups had improvements in disability (p < 0.05), and PNF had statistical superiority of improvement (p < 0.001). Conclusions The findings of this study support the potential of PNF intervention for 6 weeks as a treatment for shoulder adhesive capsulitis, showing improvements in pain, ROM and functional disability. However, further multicentre trials with a follow-up design are needed to fully understand the superiority of PNF on shoulder AC, encouraging continued engagement in this area of research. Trial registration The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12621001299897). Registered on 27 September 2021, prospectively registered.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08848-0Adhesive capsulitisProprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) patternUpper extremityStandard physiotherapy |
| spellingShingle | Abid Hasan Khan Md. Saruar Hossain Bhuiyan Md. Feroz Kabir Md. Zahid Hossain Sharmila Jahan K M Amran Hossain Ehsanur Rahman Effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern on upper extremity and scapula in patients with adhesive capsulitis: a single-centre assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT) Trials Adhesive capsulitis Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) pattern Upper extremity Standard physiotherapy |
| title | Effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern on upper extremity and scapula in patients with adhesive capsulitis: a single-centre assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT) |
| title_full | Effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern on upper extremity and scapula in patients with adhesive capsulitis: a single-centre assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT) |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern on upper extremity and scapula in patients with adhesive capsulitis: a single-centre assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern on upper extremity and scapula in patients with adhesive capsulitis: a single-centre assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT) |
| title_short | Effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern on upper extremity and scapula in patients with adhesive capsulitis: a single-centre assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT) |
| title_sort | effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern on upper extremity and scapula in patients with adhesive capsulitis a single centre assessor blinded randomised controlled trial rct |
| topic | Adhesive capsulitis Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) pattern Upper extremity Standard physiotherapy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08848-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT abidhasankhan effectivenessofproprioceptiveneuromuscularfacilitationpatternonupperextremityandscapulainpatientswithadhesivecapsulitisasinglecentreassessorblindedrandomisedcontrolledtrialrct AT mdsaruarhossainbhuiyan effectivenessofproprioceptiveneuromuscularfacilitationpatternonupperextremityandscapulainpatientswithadhesivecapsulitisasinglecentreassessorblindedrandomisedcontrolledtrialrct AT mdferozkabir effectivenessofproprioceptiveneuromuscularfacilitationpatternonupperextremityandscapulainpatientswithadhesivecapsulitisasinglecentreassessorblindedrandomisedcontrolledtrialrct AT mdzahidhossain effectivenessofproprioceptiveneuromuscularfacilitationpatternonupperextremityandscapulainpatientswithadhesivecapsulitisasinglecentreassessorblindedrandomisedcontrolledtrialrct AT sharmilajahan effectivenessofproprioceptiveneuromuscularfacilitationpatternonupperextremityandscapulainpatientswithadhesivecapsulitisasinglecentreassessorblindedrandomisedcontrolledtrialrct AT kmamranhossain effectivenessofproprioceptiveneuromuscularfacilitationpatternonupperextremityandscapulainpatientswithadhesivecapsulitisasinglecentreassessorblindedrandomisedcontrolledtrialrct AT ehsanurrahman effectivenessofproprioceptiveneuromuscularfacilitationpatternonupperextremityandscapulainpatientswithadhesivecapsulitisasinglecentreassessorblindedrandomisedcontrolledtrialrct |