Despite their common use, little
evidence is available to support the
contribution of passive mobilization
applied specifically to shoulder region
joints in the management of painful
shoulder conditions. Indeed, the results
of a recent well-powered randomized
controlled trial (RCT)
indicate that this form of manual therapy
is not more effective than exercises
and advice from a physical therapist
in the management of the
painfully restricted shoulder.18 These
results support the findings of another
study of a small sample of participants
in which passive mobilizations of
shoulder region joints were found to
be ineffective in the management of
adhesive capsulitis.19 Only one RCT
that examined the effects of passive
mobilization of shoulder region joints
in patients diagnosed with impingement
syndrome showed limited evidence
in support of the benefit of this
treatment modality.20