Are manual therapy applications an effective treatment approach in patients with glenohumeral arthritis? A randomized controlled trial


Gayretli Atan S., Analay Akbaba Y., Altun S.

Journal of Hand Therapy, cilt.39, sa.3, ss.646-655, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 39 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.jht.2025.12.016
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Hand Therapy
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.646-655
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Exercise, Glenohumeral osteoarthritis, Manual therapy, Physiotherapy
  • Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Background: Manual therapy applications can also be used in the conservative treatment of patients with Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis (GHOA). Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of manual therapy plus exercise applications vs exercise alone in patients with GHOA. Study Design: A randomized controlled clinical trial. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT03958227. Methods: Forty patients with GHOA were evaluated for treatment. The patients were randomly divided into two groups which were the exercise group and manual therapy plus exercise group. Both groups underwent a similar exercise program three times a week for 5 weeks. After drop outs (mean ± SD age, 60.1 ± 8.7 years; 22 female) 30 patients completed the study. Pain, range of motion, muscle strength, functionality, health-related quality of life were assessed with before and after 5 weeks of treatment. Patient satisfaction was assessed after treatment. Results: After treatment, a statistically significant improvements in pain, joint range of motion, muscle strength, functionality, and quality of life were observed in both groups (p < 0.05). Shoulder internal rotation (p = 0.03), (ES = 0.15) and external rotation (p = 0.04), (ES = 0.25) ROM, abduction, internal rotation and external rotation muscle strength (p = 0.01, p = 0.009, p = 0.03), (ES = 0.21, ES = 0.22, ES = 0.14) DASH (p = 0.005), (ES = 0.25) and ASES (p = 0.005), (ES = 0.24) and PCS-12 (p = 0.004), (ES = 0.25) scores were improved in favor of the manual therapy group between groups. Conclusions: Adding manual therapy to exercise programs in patients with Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis may be effective in reducing pain, increasing joint range of motion, muscle strength, functionality, and quality of life.