Affiliations: [a] Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey | [b] Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, School of Health, ÇankırıKaratekin University, Çankırı, Turkey | [c] Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Irem Duzgun, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. E-mail:iremduzgun@hacettepe.edu.tr
Abstract: BACKGROUND: In the literature it has been shown that posterior
capsule flexibility is a precursor to shoulder problems. However, no study
thus far has shown the influence of the flexibility of posterior capsule in
different shoulder pathologies. OBJECTIVE: This study set about to compare the role of posterior
capsule tightness in different shoulder problems. METHODS: One-hundred-twenty-five patients diagnosed with shoulder
subacromial impingement syndrome (n= 52), partial rotator cuff tear (n= 31) or
frozen shoulder (n= 42) and 30 asymptomatic peers participated in the
study. Horizontal adduction was assessed in side-lying position for
posterior capsule tightness. Pain was measured via the visual analogue scale
and shoulder range of motion and active total elevation was assessed with
goniometer. Hand behind the back (HBB) test was assessed the active internal
rotation by measuring the distance between T5 and the thumb. RESULTS: It was found that the affected side of the posterior
capsules of the patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (p< 0.001),
partial rotator cuff tear (p< 0.001) and frozen shoulder (p< 0.001) was
stiffer than their healthy side. There were significant differences among
groups in the level of tightness in the posterior capsule between the
affected and the healthy sides (p< 0.001). All range of motion of the
shoulder including HBB test and the posterior capsule tightness of the
affected side are found to be correlated (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasized that the posterior capsule's
susceptibility to tightness is most evident in frozen shoulder among
different shoulder problems.
