Authors :
Agalya S.; Sweshadev Nayak; M. K. Franklin Shaju
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 8 - August
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/4h32wxn6
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26aug1391
Note : A published paper may take 4-5
working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and
ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Background:
The prevalence (27.2%) of adhesive capsulitis is a burden to the society; hence there is always a necessity to develop
effective treatment intervention for adhesive capsulitis. Even though Literatures supporting the effectiveness of Spencer
technique for subjects with adhesive capsulitis are available, but no reviews are found combining Spencer technique with
conventional physiotherapy for the subjects with Adhesive capsulitis. Hence there is a need to conduct a study to find out
the effectiveness of Spencer technique combined with Wax therapy on range of motion, pain and functional ability among
subjects with adhesive capsulitis.
Methodology:
The study was pre-test post-test experimental study. 30 subjects belonging to the age group of 40 – 65 years, clinically
diagnosed to have Adhesive capsulitis were included in this study. The Experimental group had undergone Spencer
technique and Conventional physiotherapy (Wax therapy) whereas the control group had undergone Conventional
physiotherapy alone for the period of 4 weeks. Outcome measure instrument: range of motion of both the groups were
measured by using Goniometer, pain and functional ability were measured by using ASES scale respectively.
Results:
Group A subjects who underwent showed more significant difference in range of motion, pain and functional ability
following Spencer technique and Conventional physiotherapy (paraffin wax therapy) as compared to Group B who received
only conventional physiotherapy.
Conclusion:
Spencer technique combined with paraffin wax therapy are effective in treating adhesive capsulitis.
Keywords :
Adhesive Capsulitis, Spencer Technique, Wax Therapy, Pain, Range of Motion, ASES, Goniometer
References :
- Angst, F., Schwyzer, H. K., Aeschlimann, A., Simmen, B. R., & Goldhahn, J. (2011). Measures of adult shoulder function: Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (DASH) and its short version (QuickDASH), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Society standardized shoulder assessment form, Constant (Murley) Score (CS), Simple Shoulder Test (SST), Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ), and Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI). Arthritis care & research, 63 Suppl 11, S174–S188.
- Anwar, M., Mughal, M. W., Izhar, N., & Rasheed, M. (2023). Effectiveness of Maitland Mobilization Technique in Comparison with Mulligan Mobilization Technique in Management of Adhesive capsulitis. Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 17(5), 57–60.
- Beaton, D. E., & Richards, R. R. (1996). Measuring function of the shoulder. A cross-sectional comparison of five questionnaires. The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume, 78(6), 882–890.
- Contractor, E. S., Agnihotri, D. S., & Patel, R. M. (2016). Effect of spencer muscle energy technique on pain and functional disability in cases of adhesive capsulitis of shoulder joint. IAIM, 3(8), 126-31.
- D'Orsi, G. M., Via, A. G., Frizziero, A., & Oliva, F. (2012). Treatment of adhesive capsulitis: a review. Muscles, ligaments and tendons journal, 2(2), 70–78.
- Iqbal, M., Riaz, H., Ghous, M., & Masood, K. (2020). Comparison of Spencer muscle energy technique and Passive stretching in adhesive capsulitis: A single blind randomized control trial. JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association., 70(12(A)), 2113–2118.
- Jain, S., Dadia, S., Kumari, P., & Kaul, A. (2025, June). To compare the effect of adduction exercises with and without the spencer technique. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 3261, No. 1, p. 040006). AIP Publishing LLC.
- Johnson, A. J., Godges, J. J., Zimmerman, G. J., & Ounanian, L. L. (2007). The effect of anterior versus posterior glide joint mobilization on external rotation range of motion in subjects with shoulder adhesive capsulitis. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 37(3), 88–99.
- Khanam, H., George, J. S., & Balachandar, Y. M. F. (2022). A comparative study on the effect of paraffin wax therapy versus ultrasound therapy in combination of proprioceptive exercises and manual mobilization in diabetic subjects with adhesive capsulitis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, 37(3).
- Patriquin D. A. (1992). The evolution of osteopathic manipulative technique: the Spencer technique. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 92(9), 1134–1146.
- Phansopkar, P., & Qureshi, M. I. (2024). Impact of Spencer Technique on Pain, Range of Motion, and Functional Disability in Subjects With Adhesive capsulitis: A Pilot Study. Cureus, 16(1), e53263.
- Reddy, A. V., Krishna, S. R., Madhavi, K., & Sachan, A. (2019). A comparative study on the effect of paraffin wax therapy with manual mobilization versus ultrasound therapy with manual mobilization on pain, range of motion and functional status of shoulder in diabetic subjects with adhesive capsulitis.
- Schiefer, M., Teixeira, P. F. S et al., (2017). Prevalence of hypothyroidism in subjects with Adhesive capsulitis. Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery, 26(1), 49–55.
- Tamizharasy, M. E., Hemamaliga, M. R., & Harini, M. R. (2025). An Comparative Study On The Effectiveness Of Interferential Therapy And Wax Therapy With Combination Of Maitland Exercise Technique In Freezing Stage Of Frozen Shoulder. International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2645-2654.
- Zreik, N. H., Malik, R. A., & Charalambous, C. P. (2016). Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder and diabetes: a meta-analysis of prevalence. Muscles, ligaments and tendons journal, 6(1), 26–34.
Background:
The prevalence (27.2%) of adhesive capsulitis is a burden to the society; hence there is always a necessity to develop
effective treatment intervention for adhesive capsulitis. Even though Literatures supporting the effectiveness of Spencer
technique for subjects with adhesive capsulitis are available, but no reviews are found combining Spencer technique with
conventional physiotherapy for the subjects with Adhesive capsulitis. Hence there is a need to conduct a study to find out
the effectiveness of Spencer technique combined with Wax therapy on range of motion, pain and functional ability among
subjects with adhesive capsulitis.
Methodology:
The study was pre-test post-test experimental study. 30 subjects belonging to the age group of 40 – 65 years, clinically
diagnosed to have Adhesive capsulitis were included in this study. The Experimental group had undergone Spencer
technique and Conventional physiotherapy (Wax therapy) whereas the control group had undergone Conventional
physiotherapy alone for the period of 4 weeks. Outcome measure instrument: range of motion of both the groups were
measured by using Goniometer, pain and functional ability were measured by using ASES scale respectively.
Results:
Group A subjects who underwent showed more significant difference in range of motion, pain and functional ability
following Spencer technique and Conventional physiotherapy (paraffin wax therapy) as compared to Group B who received
only conventional physiotherapy.
Conclusion:
Spencer technique combined with paraffin wax therapy are effective in treating adhesive capsulitis.
Keywords :
Adhesive Capsulitis, Spencer Technique, Wax Therapy, Pain, Range of Motion, ASES, Goniometer