ORIGINAL PAPER
Tactile acuity and temporal summation as measures of central sensitisation in individuals with adhesive capsulitis: a pilot study
1
Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy, NITTE Deemed to be University, Karnataka, India
2
Ramaiah College of Physiotherapy, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Karnataka, India
3
Triangle Physiotherapy, Toronto, Canada
Submission date: 2023-07-06
Acceptance date: 2024-03-21
Publication date: 2025-06-18
Corresponding author
Shobhalakshmi Sudarshan
Ramaiah College of Physiotherapy, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru-560054, Karnataka, India
Ramaiah College of Physiotherapy, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru-560054, Karnataka, India
Physiother Quart. 2025;33(2):13-17
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
This study aimed to assess and compare tactile acuity and temporal summation between individuals with unilateral adhesive capsulitis and healthy age- and gender-matched controls.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was undertaken. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, participants were recruited from tertiary care hospitals. The study consisted of two groups: 16 participants in the adhesive capsulitis group and 16 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals in the control group. A two-point discriminator was used to assess tactile acuity, and a nylon monofilament was used to assess temporal summation.
Results:
The Mann–Whitney U test was used to analyse the data. The results showed a significant difference in tactile acuity values in the anterior (p < 0.001), middle (p = 0.001) and posterior (p = 0.001) aspects of the shoulder between the adhesive capsulitis and control groups. A significant difference in temporal summation (p < 0.001) was also observed between the adhesive capsulitis and control groups.
Conclusions:
The study demonstrated altered tactile acuity and temporal summation in individuals with adhesive capsulitis compared to healthy age- and gender-matched controls. These findings suggest that adhesive capsulitis may be accompanied by maladaptive neuroplastic changes, leading to central sensitisation.
This study aimed to assess and compare tactile acuity and temporal summation between individuals with unilateral adhesive capsulitis and healthy age- and gender-matched controls.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was undertaken. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, participants were recruited from tertiary care hospitals. The study consisted of two groups: 16 participants in the adhesive capsulitis group and 16 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals in the control group. A two-point discriminator was used to assess tactile acuity, and a nylon monofilament was used to assess temporal summation.
Results:
The Mann–Whitney U test was used to analyse the data. The results showed a significant difference in tactile acuity values in the anterior (p < 0.001), middle (p = 0.001) and posterior (p = 0.001) aspects of the shoulder between the adhesive capsulitis and control groups. A significant difference in temporal summation (p < 0.001) was also observed between the adhesive capsulitis and control groups.
Conclusions:
The study demonstrated altered tactile acuity and temporal summation in individuals with adhesive capsulitis compared to healthy age- and gender-matched controls. These findings suggest that adhesive capsulitis may be accompanied by maladaptive neuroplastic changes, leading to central sensitisation.
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