Adhesive Capsulitis: Prospective Analysis of Efficacy and Financial Impact for Use of Physical Therapy in Treatment

Recruiting now · Phase 4

Conditions studied: Adhesive Capsulitis, Frozen Shoulder, Shoulder Frozen

In brief

The purpose of this study is to identify individuals 18 or older who have diagnostic presentation of adhesive capsulitis and randomize them into two arms, distinguished by use of physical therapy and steroid injections compared with steroid injections followed by watchful waiting. This prospective study will be used to determine whether there is a significant impact on patient outcome and whether the additional financial burden is justified. There are no experimental interventions for this study. The use of physical therapy, oral and parenteral corticosteroids, and watchful waiting are offered following the standard of care for adhesive capsulitis. Our hypothesis is that patients will not have a significant difference in outcome between the two study arms. One group will undergo regular physical therapy with corticosteroid injections (Arm 1) and the other will have steroid injections during the inflammatory phase only and then be regularly observed (Arm 2). We also hypothesize there will be a significant financial burden associated with the PT arm that is not justified with the possibility of increased symptom reports in that arm.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02283996

Run by

Massachusetts General Hospital

People needed

260

Starts

2014-11-01

Expected to finish

2027-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2025-10-27

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Patient must be 18 years or older
• Must meet the following definition for adhesive capsulitis as defined by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons: Self-limiting condition resulting from any inflammatory process about the shoulder in which capsular scar tissue is produced, resulting in pain and limited range of motion; also called frozen shoulder
• Must be amenable to randomization into either cohort

You may not qualify if…

• Non-English speaking patients
• Pregnant women (women of childbearing potential will be advised to undergo regular pregnancy testing)
• Patients who had previously undergone operative therapy for the condition

Where it is running

• MGH, Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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