Clinical trial NCT06447493: Effects of Spencer's Technique on Shoulder Function
Official title: Exploring the Effects of Spencer's Technique on Shoulder Function: A Pilot Study
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Shoulder
Keywords: Osteopathic Physicians
Shoulder
Diagnostic Imaging
Motion Capture
Range of Motion, Articular
Blood Circulation
Pain
Lead sponsor: Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2024-06-07
Enrollment: 20
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 50
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Intervention model description: Two by Two cross-over trial. Measurements will be taken on both shoulders with only the dominant shoulder receiving osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). The order in which the measurements and OMT treatment is performed will be randomized. The cross-over design allows for the opportunity to estimate 3 components, the possible effect of ultrasound measurement on the outcomes even when OMT is not performed, the combined effect of OMT and ultrasound measurements on outcomes, and an adjusted estimate OMT treatment effect removing any ultrasound effects if those effects exist. Change scores for all outcomes will be calculated per shoulder and then a comparison between change scores will be conducted using a paired design.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to see the impact of a modified Spencer's technique on tissue stiffness, mobility, and blood flow of the shoulder joint. Spencer's technique is a well-known osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) that is common for treating adhesive capsulitis and is believed to help blood flow. There are studies that look at the clinical effects of the technique and/or compare it to other techniques; however, measuring the extent to which Spencer's technique, or this modified technique, improves tissue stiffness and blood flow has never been written in the literature. This study will serve as a proof of concept that this technique improves tissue stiffness, blood flow, and mobility of the shoulder join as well as the nearby areas. Using ultrasound, the investigators will measure tissue stiffness and blood flow and will analyze the mobility of the shoulder joint using a Vicon motion capture system.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

• male and female subjects 18-50 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

* prior shoulder surgery or injury to the reported dominant throwing arm
* shoulder pain in the reported dominant throwing arm within the last 6 months
* diagnosis cervical radiculopathy or pinched nerve in the neck
* connective tissue or muscle disorders
* known pregnancy
* tobacco use
* known diabetes or prediabetes
* allergy to ultrasound gel (propylene glycol)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Muscle Stiffness
timeFrame: Day 1 Pre, Day 1 Post, Day 2
measure: Shoulder Mobility
timeFrame: Day 1 Pre, Day 1 Post, Day 2
measure: Microvascular/capillary blood flow
timeFrame: Day 1 Pre, Day 1 Post, Day 2
measure: Subjective Shoulder Stiffness (Visual Analogue Scale)
timeFrame: Day 1 Pre, Day 2
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Auburn
country: United States
facility: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Auburn
state: Alabama
Study officials:
References:
citation: Knebl JA, Shores JH, Gamber RG, Gray WT, Herron KM. Improving functional ability in the elderly via the Spencer technique, an osteopathic manipulative treatment: a randomized, controlled trial. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2002 Jul;102(7):387-96.
citation: Iqbal M, Riaz H, Ghous M, Masood K. Comparison of Spencer muscle energy technique and Passive stretching in adhesive capsulitis: A single blind randomized control trial. J Pak Med Assoc. 2020 Dec;70(12(A)):2113-2118. doi: 10.5455/JPMA.23971.
citation: Haveela, B., Praveen Dowle, and P. Chandrasekhar.
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citation: Kunz P, Mick P, Gross S, Schmidmaier G, Zeifang F, Weber MA, Fischer C. Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) as Predictor for Early Retear and Functional Outcome After Supraspinatus Tendon Repair. J Orthop Res. 2020 May;38(5):1150-1158. doi: 10.1002/jor.24535. Epub 2019 Dec 2.
citation: Matava MJ, Purcell DB, Rudzki JR. Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. Am J Sports Med. 2005 Sep;33(9):1405-17. doi: 10.1177/0363546505280213.
citation: Lawrence RL, Moutzouros V, Bey MJ. Asymptomatic Rotator Cuff Tears. JBJS Rev. 2019 Jun;7(6):e9. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.18.00149.
citation: Coren S. Measurement of handedness via self-report: the relationship between brief and extended inventories. Percept Mot Skills. 1993 Jun;76(3 Pt 1):1035-42. doi: 10.2466/pms.1993.76.3.1035.