Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Silent Manipulation for Adhesive Capsulitis

  • Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (K Onishi, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review aims to critically analyze the scientific literature on silent manipulation (SM) and offer an expert opinion on how past research translates to clinical practice. SM is a new treatment method for adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as frozen shoulder, in which a patient is treated with shoulder manipulation following an ultrasound-guided cervical nerve root block.

Recent Findings

SM showed good results in the short term, with improvements in range of motion (ROM), pain, and clinical scores. The results in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) were also good but were slightly worse than those in patients without DM. In addition to showing good clinical results, postprocedure magnetic resonance imaging revealed that 13.3% of patients had an articular labrum injury, and 50% had humeral bone bruising. Since this treatment method is new, reports on treatment results are limited, with only short-term results being available. Results have been reported since 2017, but the improvements in the ROM are comparable to those achieved by arthroscopic capsular release.

Summary

SM is a safe and inexpensive procedure with good short-term results. However, there are still very few reports on long-term results and complications, and additional research and long-term observations are required in the future.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Neviaser AS, Hannafin JA. Adhesive capsulitis: a review of current treatment. Am J Sports Med. 2010;38(11):2346–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Rodeo SA, Hannafin JA, Tom J, Warren RF, Wickiewicz TL. Immunolocalization of cytokines and their receptors in adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. J Othop Res. 1997;15:427–36.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Li JQ, Tang KL, Wang J, et al. MRI findings for frozen shoulder evaluation: is the thickness of the coracohumeral ligament a valuable diagnostic tool? PLoS One. 2011;6(12):e28704.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lee SY, Park J, Song SW. Correlation of MR arthrographic findings and range of shouldermotions in patients with frozen shoulder. Am J Roentgenol. 2012;198(1):173–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hand C, Clipsham K, Rees JL, Carr AJ. Long-term outcome of frozen shoulder. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2008;17(2):231e6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Itoi E, et al. Shoulder stiffness: current concepts and concerns. Arthroscopy. 2016;32:1402–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Hsu JE, Anakwenze OA, Warrender WJ, Abboud JA. Current review of adhesive capsulitis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2011;20:502e14.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Green S, Buchbinder R, Hetrick S. Physiotherapy interventions for shoulder pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;2:CD004258.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Dahan TH, Fortin L, Pelletier M, et al. Double blind randomized clinical trial examining the efficacy of bupivacaine suprascapular nerve blocks in frozen shoulder. J Rheumatol. 2000;27:1464–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Buchbinder R, Green S, Forbes A, Hall S, Lawler G. Arthro-graphic joint distension with saline and steroid improves function and reduces pain in patients with painful stiff shoulder: results of a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2004;63:302–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Woods DA, Longanathan K. Recurrence of frozen shoulder after manipulation under anesthetic (MUA): the results of repeating the MUA. Bone Joint J. 2017;99-B:812e7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kanbe K. Clinical outcome of arthroscopic capsular release for frozen shoulder: essential technical points in 255 patients. J Orthop Surg Res. 2018;13:56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Shaffer B, Tibone J, Kerlan R. Frozen shoulder. A long-term follow-up. J Bone Joint Surg. 1992;74(5):738–46.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Le Lievre Hugh M J, Murrell George A C. Long-term outcomes after arthroscopic capsular release for idiopathic adhesive capsulitis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012;94(13):1208–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Minagawa H. Ultrasound medical care in practice for shoulder contracture. Jpn J Orthop Rehabil. 2011;14(1):6e9 [in Japanese].

    Google Scholar 

  16. Roubal PJ, Dobritt D, Placzek JD. Glenohumeral gliding manipulation following interscalene brachial plexus block in patients with adhesive capsulitis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1996;24(2):66–77.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. ••Saito T, Sasanuma H, Iijima Y, et al. Short-term clinical results of frozen shoulder treated with shoulder manipulation under ultrasound-guided cervical nerve root block at outpatient setting: a case series. J Orthop Sci. 2017;2:275–80 First report of SM for Adhesive Capsulitis [in English].

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Takahashi R, Iwahori Y, Kajita Y, et al. Clinical results and complications of shoulder manipulation under ultrasound-guided cervical nerve root block for frozen shoulder: a retrospective observational study. Pain Ther. 2019;8:111–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ando A, Hamada J, Hagiwara Y, et al. Short-term clinical results of manipulation under ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block in patients with idiopathic frozen shoulder and diabetic secondary frozen shoulder. Open Orthop J. 2018;12:99–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Duplay ES. De la periarthrite scapulo- humerale et des raideurs de I’epaule qui en son la consequence. Arch Cen Med. 1872;20:s 13-542.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kim D-H, et al. Early clinical outcomes of manipulation under anesthesia for refractory adhesive capsulitis: comparison with arthroscopic capsular release. Clin Orthop Surg. 2020;12(2):217. https://doi.org/10.4055/cios19027.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Farrell CM, Sperling JW, Cofield RH. Manipulation for frozen shoulder: long-term results. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2005;14(5):480–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2005.02.012.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Grant JA, Schroeder N, Miller BS, Carpenter JE. Comparison of manipulation and arthroscopic capsular release for adhesive capsulitis: a systematic review. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2013;22(8):1135–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. McKean D, Yoong P, Brooks R, et al. Shoulder manipulation under targeted ultrasound- guided rotator interval block for adhesive capsulitis. Skeletal Radiol. 2019;48(8):1269–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Riazi S, Carmichael NN, Awad I, Holtby RM, McCartney CJL. Effect of local anaesthetic volume (20 vs 5 ml) on the efficacy and respiratory consequences of ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block. Br J Anaesth. 2008;101(4):549–56.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Ekelund AE, Rydell N. Combination treatment for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. Clin Orthop. 1992;282:105–9.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kivimaki J, Pohjolainen T. Manipulation under anesthesia for frozen shoulder with and without steroid injection. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2001;8:1189–91.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Maund E, Craig D, Suekarran S, et al. Management of frozen shoulder: a systematic review and cost effectiveness analysis. Health Technol Assess. 2012;16:1–264.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. •Sasanuma H, Sugimoto H, Kanaya Y, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging and short-term clinical results of severe frozen shoulder treated with manipulation under ultrasound-guided cervical nerve root block. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1:13–20. After SM, the exact location where the joint capsule was released and bone was damaged can be confirmed by MRI.

  30. Takahashi Y, Kajita R, Harada Y, et al. Clinical results of shoulder manipulation under ultrasound-guided cervical nerve root block for frozen shoulder in patients with diabetes. J Orthop. 2020;21:297–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Pitombo PF, Barros RM, Matos MA, Módolo NS. Selective suprascapular and axillary nerve block provides adequate analgesia and minimal motor block: comparison with inter-scalene block. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2013;63:45–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Waleed A. Postoperative analgesia for arthroscopic shoulder surgery: comparison between ultrasound-guided interscalene block and combined suprascapular and axillary nerve blocks. Ain-Shams J Anaesthesiol. 2016;9:536–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Riazi S, Carmichael N, Awad I, Holtby RM, McCartney CJL. Effect of local anaesthetic volume (20 vs 5 ml) on the efficacy and respiratory consequences of ultrasound- guided interscalene brachial plexus block. Br J Anaesth. 2008;101(4):549–56.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Barrington MJ, Kluger R. Ultrasound guidance reduces the risk of local anesthetic systemic toxicity following peripheral nerve blockade. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2013;38:289–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Klaastad O, Sauter AR, Dodgson MS. Brachial plexus block with or without ultrasound guidance. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2009;22(5):655–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Loew M, Heichel TO, Lehner B. Intraarticular lesions in primary frozen shoulder after manipulation under general anesthesia. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2005;14:16–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Georgiannos D, et al. Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. Is there consensus regarding the treatment? A comprehensive review. Open Orthop. 2017;1:65–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Japan

    Kazuma Miyatake, Takahiro Fujisawa, Akio Otoshi, Yusuke Kawabata, Yohei Kusaba, Shinya Tsujiku & Yutaka Inaba

Authors
  1. Kazuma Miyatake
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Takahiro Fujisawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Akio Otoshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yusuke Kawabata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yohei Kusaba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Shinya Tsujiku
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yutaka Inaba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kazuma Miyatake.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Human and Animal Rights

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Miyatake, K., Fujisawa, T., Otoshi, A. et al. Silent Manipulation for Adhesive Capsulitis. Curr Phys Med Rehabil Rep 9, 230–236 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40141-021-00332-5

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40141-021-00332-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation