Spencer Technique
Original Editor - Sehriban Ozmen
Top Contributors - Sehriban Ozmen
Description[edit | edit source]
The Spencer technique is an osteopathic manipulative technique that dates back to 1916. [1] It consists of a series of shoulder manual treatments.
Indication[edit | edit source]
- Adhesive capsulitis (Frozen shoulder): Spencer technique is effective in reducing pain, improving shoulder ROM, and decreasing functional impairment in patients with frozen shoulder. [2]
Clinical Application[edit | edit source]
Spencer stated that ''It is almost impossible to apply this treatment without causing moderate pain-but never extreme pain...Progress is necessarily slow because stretching and not tearing are the results to be attained.'' [1]
Steps of Technique[edit | edit source]
- Step 1: Shoulder extension with elbow flexion
- Step 2: Shoulder flexion with elbow extension
- Step 3: Circumduction with compression
- Step 4: Circumduction with distraction
- Step 5: Shoulder abduction and internal rotation with elbow flexion
- Step 6: Shoulder adduction and external rotation with elbow flexion
- Step 7: Stretching tissue and pumping fluids with the arm extended [2]
The video below describes how to perform the steps of the technique:
Evidence[edit | edit source]
In literature, studies that compared the Spencer technique with other manual therapy techniques for frozen shoulder exist. The results of some of them are listed below:
- Spencer Muscle Energy Technique versus Passive Stretching: Spencer Technique was found to be more effective than Passive Stretching. [4]
- Spencer Muscle Energy Technique versus Maitland Mobilisations: It was found that both techniques are effective for improving pain, reducing disability, and increasing range of motion. However, Spencer Technique was found to be more effective compared to Maitland Mobilization. [5]
- Mulligan’s Mobilisation versus Spencer Technique Along with Conventional Therapy (Randomized Controlled Trial): Mulligan’s mobilization was found to be more effective than the Spencer technique. [6]
Resources[edit | edit source]
https://www.osmosis.org/learn/Upper_limb_muscle_energy_treatment
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Patriquin DA. The evolution of osteopathic manipulative technique: the Spencer technique. Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. 1992 Sep 1;92(9):1134-.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Phansopkar P. Impact of Spencer Technique on Pain, Range of Motion, and Functional Disability in Patients With Frozen Shoulder: A Pilot Study. Cureus. 2024 Jan 30;16(1).
- ↑ Yein Lee. Spencer Technique . Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncunrPtBtgg
- ↑ Iqbal M, Riaz H, Ghous M, Masood K. Comparison of Spencer muscle energy technique and Passive stretching in adhesive capsulitis: A single blind randomized control trial. J Pak Med Assoc. 2020 Dec 1;70(12):2113-8.
- ↑ Jivani RR, Hingarajia DN. Effect of spencer muscle energy technique versus maitland’s mobilization technique on pain, rom and disability in patients with frozen shoulder: a comparative study. Int J Physiother Res. 2021 Aug 11;9(4):3928-36.
- ↑ Shera D, Afzaal F, Noor A, Fatima A, Khalid U, Fatima I, Khalid A, Sardar N, Nadeem S, Arif B, Khurram M. Comparison of Effectiveness of Mulligan’s Mobilization and Spencer Technique Along with Conventional Therapy for Frozen Shoulder. Randomized Controlled Trial RCT. British Journal of Multidisciplinary and Advanced Studies. 2023 Dec 29;4(6):73-83.
