Effects of Spencer's Technique on Shoulder Function

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Shoulder

• Registration Number: NCT06447493
• Lead Sponsor: Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine

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.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-08-15
• Study First Submitted: 2024-06-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-06-03
• Study First Posted: 2024-06-07
• Status Verified: 2025-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-08-04
• Last Update Posted: 2025-08-07
• Primary Completion: 2026-03-15
• Study Completion: 2026-07-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

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)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Muscle Stiffness	Day 1 Pre, Day 1 Post, Day 2	Using Shear Wave Elastography to measure muscle stiffness (kPa) of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, posterior shoulder capsule, and coracoacromial ligament.
Microvascular/capillary blood flow	Day 1 Pre, Day 1 Post, Day 2	Using ultrasound to capture blood flow of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, posterior shoulder capsule, and coracoacromial ligament.
Shoulder Mobility	Day 1 Pre, Day 1 Post, Day 2	Using Vicon motion capture system to calculate landmark coordinates and using morphometric canonical variate analysis to analyze mobility changes.
Subjective Shoulder Stiffness (Visual Analogue Scale)	Day 1 Pre, Day 2	Using Visual Analogue scale to measure participant's subjective measure of shoulder stiffness. Scores range from 0 to 10, with 0 being "Not stiff at all" and 10 being "Very stiff."

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Auburn; 🇺🇸 Auburn, Alabama, United States