1. Does unilateral adhesive capsulitis also affect the healthy shoulder? Bilateral evaluation of shoulder kinematics and pain sensitivity using IMU sensors and algometer.
- Author
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Starita, S., Deodato, M., Martini, M., Murena, L., and Accardo, A.
- Subjects
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ADHESIVE capsulitis , *KINEMATICS , *DETECTORS , *PATHOLOGY , *PHYSICAL therapy - Abstract
Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is a generally unilateral condition caused by a pathological retraction of the capsule and ligaments of the glenohumeral joint. This results in progressive pain with a decrease of Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT), and in gradual loss of range of motion (ROM) in all planes of space [1]. The effectiveness of physical therapy treatments depends on the appropriate clinical management strategies, for this reason, the objective evaluation and treatment remain challenging [2]. In this observational study, clinical and kinematic differences between healthy and capsulitis shoulder before and after a conservative physiotherapy protocol are enquired. Humeral flexion/abduction motions of 10 patients with unilateral AC were investigated with inertial and magnetic (IMU) sensors. Specifically, ISEO protocol was used to assess the differences in humeral ROM between the pathological and healthy shoulder [3], and pain sensitivity was assessed by means of algometer. The acquisitions were performed, on both capsulitis (cS) and healthy shoulder (hS), twice: at the baseline (T0), and after 20 one-hour individual sessions of physiotherapy protocol (T1) [4]. Significant differences in the humeral ROM during both motion exercises were detected between cS and hS at T0 but not after physical therapy treatment (Fig. 1a). On the contrary PPT increased significatively at the cS level (not shown) and at the hS level (Fig. 1b). To date, no previous study has investigated the quality of movement with IMU sensors nor the differences between hS and cS in patients with AC. This study reveals that ISEO protocol is an efficient approach for quantitative evaluation of physical therapy efficacy in AC. Moreover, while physical therapy does not improve ROM in hS, it does ameliorate significantly bilateral patients' pain sensitivity: since unilateral AC alters motor programs not only of the affected shoulder but also of dorsal and cervical elements [5], physical therapies treating and mobilitating these areas have a bilateral biomechanical effect that allows a reduction of pain sensitivity also at the level of hS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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