Comparison of Digital and Conventional Physical Therapy on Cost Effectiveness, Pain, and Disability in Adhesive Capsulitis

Summary

Adhesive capsulitis is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by shoulder pain, progressive stiffness, and functional limitation, significantly affecting activities of daily living and quality of life. Physical therapy plays a key role in the management of adhesive capsulitis through pain reduction, restoration of range of motion, and improvement of functional capacity. With the advancement of digital health technologies, digital physical therapy interventions such as tele-rehabilitation and app-guided exercise programs have emerged as potential alternatives to conventional in-person therapy.

However, evidence comparing the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of digital physical therapy with conventional physical therapy remains limited, particularly in patients with adhesive capsulitis.

Therefore, this randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of digital physical therapy and conventional physical therapy on pain intensity, functional disability, and cost-effectiveness among patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis. Participants will be randomly allocated to either a digital physical therapy group, receiving supervised exercise guidance and monitoring through digital platforms, or a conventional physical therapy group receiving standard in-clinic physiotherapy interventions.

Pain and disability outcomes will be assessed using validated outcome measures such as the Visual Analog Scale and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. Cost-effectiveness will be evaluated by comparing treatment-related direct and indirect costs between both groups.

The findings of this study will help determine whether digital physical therapy is a clinically effective and economically viable alternative to conventional physiotherapy for managing adhesive capsulitis, potentially improving accessibility to rehabilitation services.

Conditions

• Adhesive Capsulitis

Interventions

OTHER

Digital Physical Therapy (Tele-rehabilitation Program)

Participants allocated to this group will receive a structured tele-rehabilitation program supervised remotely by a licensed physiotherapist through video-conferencing platforms. The program will include shoulder mobility exercises, capsular stretching, strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizer muscles, and functional training to improve shoulder movement and reduce pain. Participants will attend three supervised online sessions per week for six weeks. Instruction on proper exercise technique and progression will be provided, and participants will also be encouraged to perform prescribed home exercises between sessions. Regular virtual monitoring and feedback will be provided to ensure adherence and correct performance of exercises.

OTHER

Conventional Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Program

Participants in this group will receive standard in-clinic physiotherapy supervised by licensed physiotherapists. The intervention will include therapeutic exercises focusing on shoulder mobility, capsular stretching, strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers, and manual therapy techniques such as joint mobilization to improve shoulder range of motion and reduce pain. Treatment sessions will be conducted three times per week for six weeks at the physiotherapy clinic. Participants will also receive instructions for home exercises to support recovery and improve functional mobility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Lahore

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

35 Years

Max Age

55 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-11-03

Primary Completion

2026-02-27

Completion

2026-02-27

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations