Year: 2025 | Month: October | Volume: 15 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 183-190
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20251020
Maitland Mobilisation in Rehabilitation of a Cancer Survivor Patient with Frozen Shoulder: A Case Study
Subhro Ray Chowdhury1, Mantu Paul2
1,2Department of Physiotherapy,
1College of Physiotherapy, National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (Divyangjan), Affiliated by The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai, India.
2Composite Regional Centre (CRC) for Skill Development, Rehabilitation and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Guwahati, India.
1,2Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
Corresponding Author: Mantu Paul
ABSTRACT
Adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, is a progressively disabling condition characterised by pain and loss of glenohumeral motion. In elderly cancer survivors, rehabilitation requires caution due to comorbidities and oncology-related contraindications. A 77-year-old male cancer survivor with carcinoma of the prostate (treated with radiotherapy), pacemaker implantation, and coronary artery disease presented with adhesive capsulitis of the left shoulder following a traumatic fall. Examination revealed painful restriction in all planes of movement, muscle weakness (3-/5), a VAS pain score of 6/10 and significant functional impairment (SPADI: 64/100). A four-week rehabilitation program was administered in two phases. Maitland mobilisation techniques (antero-posterior and inferior glide, grades I-II) were combined with conventional physiotherapy exercises such as pendular movements, wall ladder tasks, mariner’s wheel and thera-band strengthening. A structured home exercise program was prescribed. Electro-physical modalities were excluded owing to oncological risks. The patient showed clinically meaningful reductions in pain, increased capsular extensibility, improved shoulder range of motion, and enhanced daily functional capacity. Maitland mobilisation, integrated with structured exercises, appears to be a safe and effective rehabilitation strategy for managing adhesive capsulitis in elderly cancer survivors. Future controlled studies are warranted to establish standardised protocols and assess long term outcomes.
Key words: Adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder, Maitland Mobilisation, cancer survivor rehabilitation physiotherapy, geriatric rehabilitation.