Study and date

Type of study

Number of participants

Symptoms duration

Interventions and number of treatments

Results measurements

Follow-up

Findings

Doner et al. 2013 [12]

Randomized controlled study

40

≥3 months

Moist hot towels (MHT), transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS), passive stretching vs. MHT, TENS, Mulligan techniques

Number not described

Pain

ROM (range of movement)

Function

Satisfaction

3 months

Both techniques (passive stretching and Mulligan techniques) were effective in pain reduction, and range of movement and function improvements. The group treated with Mulligan techniques was superior when comparing improvements achieved in terms of pain, range of movement, function and patient satisfaction

Johnson et al. 2007 [16]

Clinical randomized study

20

Not described

Ultrasound (US), anterior and posterior joint mobilization (direction according to group), upper limb ergometric exercise

6 sessions

Pain

ROM external rotation

Not described

Both groups showed significant improvements in pain decrease

Posterior versus anterior mobilization was more effective to achieve increases of external rotation in subjects with adhesive capsulitis

Celik D. 2010 [8]

Randomized study

39

Not described

TENS, cold pack, NSAIDs, articular range exercises, scapulothoracic exercises (group 2)

30 sessions (6 semanas)

Pain

Function

ROM

Not described

Both groups showed improvements in function, range of movement and pain decrease at the end of 6 and 12 weeks

Improvements in range of movement achieved at 12 weeks were significantly greater in group 2 (scapulothoracic exercises)

Scapulothoracic exercises contributed to decreased pain and range of movement improvements, when performed together with glenohumeral exercises, in patients with adhesive capsulitis

Deshmukh et al. 2014 [13]

Not described

30

Not described

Maitland mobilization, exercises (control group) vs. Maitland mobilization, miofascial release, exercises (experimental group)

9 sessions (3 weeks)

Pain

Function

ROM

Not described

Significant improvements in pain relief, function, and range of movement were achieved in both groups. When comparing results between groups, significant differences exist in terms of pain, function, and range of movement, when miofascial release is performed before Maitland manipulation

Suri et al. 2013 [14]

Comparative study

30

Not described

CHC, active exercises, Maitland mobilization (group 1) vs. CHC, Muscle energy techniques (group 2)

12 sessions (2 semanas)

Pain

ROM

Not described

Results show that both techniques are useful to treat adhesive capsulitis, Maitland mobilization being more effective in active and passive movement increments, while muscle energy techniques were more effective in pain relief

Vermeulen et al. 2006 [18]

Randomized controlled study

100

≥3 months

High degree mobilization techniques vs. low degree mobilization techniques

24 sessions (12 weeks)

Function

Active and passive ROM

12 months

By the end of 12 weeks, improvements in range of motion and function were found in patients treated with the three mobilization techniques. When comparing the effectiveness of the three mobilization techniques, the end of range and movement mobilization techniques achieved greater benefits in movement and function than mid-range mobilization

After 3 weeks of mobilization techniques with movement, improvements in scapulohumeral movement strategies are achieved

Joshi et al. 2013 [17]

Not described

30

Not described

US, exercises, anterior sliding vs. US, exercises, posterior sliding

6 sessions (2 weeks)

Pain

ROM external rotation

Not described

The authors found that combining anterior sliding with US and exercises was superior for the treatment of external rotation deficits in patients with adhesive capsulitis. Due to this, they conclude that this technique is very effective for pain decrease and shoulder external rotation range increase in patients with primary adhesive capsulitis

Yang et al. 2007 [15]

Not described

28

3 months