Efficacy of Active Exercises and Maitland Mobilization in Adhesive Capsulitis: A Comparative Study

Background: Adhesive capsulitis is a painful shoulder condition associated with progressive restriction of active and passive glenohumeral movement. It can interfere with dressing, grooming, reaching, lifting, and sleep. Physiotherapy commonly combines education, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, and symptom-modulating modalities. The relative contribution of mobilization and active exercise when each is combined with superficial heat remains clinically relevant.  Objective: To compare the effects of Maitland mobilization plus hot-pack therapy, active shoulder exercises plus hot-pack therapy, and hot-pack therapy alone on pain intensity and shoulder-related pain and disability over six weeks.  Methods: A comparative pre-test–post-test study included 60 participants aged 40–60 years with adhesive capsulitis. Twenty participants were included in each group. Group A received Maitland glenohumeral mobilization with hot-pack therapy; Group B received active or assisted shoulder exercises with hot-pack therapy; and Group C received hot-pack therapy alone. Treatment was scheduled five days per week for six weeks. Pain was assessed using a 0–10 Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and shoulder-related pain and disability were assessed using recorded SPADI totals. Within-group changes were assessed using paired-samples t-tests and post-treatment group means were compared using one-way ANOVA.