International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences | June 2019 | Vol 7 | Issue 6 Page 2187 International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences Bhale AA et al. Int J Res Med Sci. 2019 Jun;7(6):2187-2191 www.msjonline.org pISSN 2320-6071 | eISSN 2320-6012 Original Research Article Evaluation of shoulder kinesthesia in patients with unilateral frozen shoulder Akansha A. Bhale, Surendra K. Wani* INTRODUCTION Intact sensory-motor system provides kinesthesia for maintaining joint stability. Joint proprioception or joint kinesthetic sensation is often used alternately to describe a deep sensation of joint motion and joint position sense. Mechanoreceptors located in superficial layer of joint capsule, muscle spindle, golgi tendon organ complex and ligaments around joint provides joint kinesthetic sensation. 1 Joint kinesthetic sensation may be affected due to presence of disease process or the recent surgical process due to disruption of mechanoreceptors and presence of pain. Previously, Barrett et al reported impaired joint proprioception after ACL injury in patients with acute Department of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, DVVPF’S College of Physiotherapy Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India Received: 18 March 2019 Accepted: 03 May 2019 *Correspondence: Dr. Surendra K. Wani, E-mail: wanisuren@gmail.com Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT Background: Intact sensory-motor system provides kinesthesia for maintaining joint stability. Joint proprioception or joint kinesthetic sensation is often used alternately to describe a deep sensation of joint motion and joint position sense. Mechanoreceptors located in superficial layer of joint capsule, muscle spindle, golgi tendon organ complex and ligaments around joint provides joint kinesthetic sensation. Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis is one of the common musculoskeletal disorders encountered in Indian population with a prevalence of almost 50% older patients with diabetes and 2-10% in non-diabetic patients. This study assessed joint kinesthetic sensation during shoulder movements in people with frozen shoulder and healthy controls which may be affected due to presence of disease process or pain. Authors hypothesized that pain and alterations in non-contractile tissues (mainly capsule) around shoulder joint due to frozen shoulder may interfere with the joint kinesthetic sensation. Methods: Case group consisted of 41 participants with frozen shoulder and 41 healthy participants without shoulder pathology. Joint kinesthesia was assessed in frozen shoulders and dominant shoulders using angle reproduction test by actively reproducing the target angle placed passively by the therapist during flexion, abduction, medial and lateral rotation movements. The angle reproduced was measured using universal goniometer by the same therapist and 3 readings were recorded. Results: Results indicate significant differences between the mean difference of angle reproduction test during shoulder movements in cases of frozen shoulder and healthy group (p value <0.05). Conclusions: Significant shoulder kinesthetic deficits were observed in patients with unilateral frozen shoulder. Therefore, clinicians should consider rehabilitation of kinesthesia in treatment of patients with frozen shoulder. Keywords: Adhesive capsulitis, Angle reproduction test, Frozen shoulder, Joint kinesthesia, Joint proprioception, Shoulder function DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20192496