Effect of Spencer Muscle Energy Technique Versus Maitland’s Mobilization Technique on Pain, ROM and Disability in Patients with Frozen Shoulder: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background: Adhesive capsulitis is characterized by a painful, gradual loss of both active and passive glenohumeral motion resulting from progressive fibrosis and ultimate contracture of the glenohumeral joint capsule. Patients with Adhesive capsulitis have difficulties in everyday activities and shoulder pain also disturbs sleep at night on the affected side. Muscle energy technique helps in increasing shoulder range of motion. Maitland Mobilization is commonly used in the treatment of frozen shoulder. SPENCER Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is unique in its application as the client provides the initial effort while the practitioner facilitates the process. Objective: Objectives of the study was to compare the effect of Spencer MET Vs Maitland’s mobilization on pain, Range of Motion (ROM) and Disability in the patients with frozen shoulder. Methods: In the present experimental study, total 58 patients with frozen shoulder were included. Inclusion criteria were male and female with age of 40 to 60 year with unilateral frozen shoulder (at least 3-month duration). Patients were randomly allocated in two groups with 29 patients in each group: SPENCER MET and Conventional physiotherapy and MM and conventional physiotherapy for 5days a week with total duration of 4 weeks. Pre and post intervention assessment was carried out by using VAS, SPADI and ROM. Data was analysed by using SPSS 15 version. Results: Paired t test was applied within group comparison and result showed statistically significant difference in post intervention measurement compared to pre intervention for improving pain, reducing disability and increasing all ROM in both the groups. Independent t test was applied between group comparison and result showed statistically significant difference between groups mean pre-post differences in improving pain, reducing disability and increasing all ROM except extension and internal rotation. Conclusion: This study concludes that both the techniques used in the present study i.e., Spencer Muscle Energy Technique and Maitland Mobilization are effective for improving pain, reducing disability, and increasing ROM. However, SPENCER MET is the more effective for improving pain, reducing disability, and increasing ROM compared to Maitland Mobilization in patients with frozen shoulder. KEY WORDS: Frozen shoulder, SPENCER MET, Maitland mobilization, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, Visual Analogue Scale.