ABSTRACT

Year : 2022  |  Volume : 6  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 67

Physiotherapy in musculoskeletal Conditions: AB No: 90: Tactile Acuity and Temporal Summation as a Measure of Central Sensitization in Individuals with Adhesive Capsulitis-A Cross Sectional Study

Shobhalakshmi S, Sayli Rajadhyaksha, Ramya H S
Department of Physiotherapy, M S Ramaiah Medical College

Correspondence Address:

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

DOI: 10.4103/2456-7787.361115

Background and Objectives: Adhesive capsulitis is a condition in which individuals have pain and restricted range of motion of the shoulder. In the early stages, there is also continuous nociceptive barrage, which may lead to peripheral and subsequently central sensitization. Central sensitization is an amplification of neural signalling within the central nervous system that elicits pain hypersensitivity. The presence of central sensitization can be assessed through temporal summation and tactile acuity. Determining the presence of central sensitization in adhesive capsulitis could direct physiotherapy interventions towards central nervous system focused approach such as pain neuroscience education and graded motor imagery along with conventional therapy. Hence the purpose of this study is to determine the alteration in tactile acuity and temporal summation in individuals with adhesive capsulitis as compared with healthy individuals. Methodology: Cross-sectional research design was used. The participants were recruited from M S Ramaiah Hospitals. Participants were selected based on the inclusion exclusion criteria. The study consisted of two groups with 16 participants in the adhesive capsulitis group and the control group consists of 16 age and gender-matched healthy individuals. Assessment of tactile acuity was done using a two-point discriminator and assessment of temporal summation using a monofilament. Results: Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyse the data. The result of the study showed that there was a significant difference in tactile acuity anterior valve (p= < 0.001), tactile acuity middle valve (p=0.001), tactile acuity posterior value (p=0.001) and temporal summation valve (p= < 0.001) in adhesive capsulitis group compared with the control group. Interpretation and conclusion: In this study individuals with adhesive capsulitis had higher tactile acuity and temporal summation value as compared with the age and gender-matched healthy individuals. As there was an alteration in tactile acuity and temporal summation, this study concluded that central sensitization is present in an individual with adhesive capsulitis.

Keywords: Adhesive capsulitis, Central sensitization, Tactile acuity, Temporal summation