TO COMPARE THE EFFICACY OF TWO DIFFERENT SOFT TISSUE RELEASE TECHNIQUES IN TREATING INDIVIDUALS WITH TERMINAL SHOULDER FLEXION DYSFUNCTION: A PILOT STUDY

This pilot study aimed to compare the efficacy of two soft tissue release techniques-visceral mobilization of liver ligaments and myofascial release of the pectoralis minor muscle-on terminal shoulder flexion dysfunction. Thirty participants aged 20-40 years with shoulder dysfunction for over three months were randomly assigned to three groups: Group A (control group), Group B (visceral mobilization), and Group C (myofascial release). All groups received conservative physiotherapy. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included pain intensity, range of motion (ROM), pectoralis minor length, and QuickDASH scores. The results demonstrated significant improvements in all outcome measures across all groups (p < 0.05). However, participants in Group B exhibited superior improvement in ROM and functional disability compared to Group C. Both intervention groups outperformed the control group in reducing pain and improving terminal shoulder flexion. The findings highlight that incorporating soft tissue release techniques, particularly visceral mobilization of liver ligaments, enhances the effectiveness of conservative physiotherapy for terminal shoulder dysfunction. Further studies are recommended to validate these findings in larger populations.