Frozen shoulder: prospective clinical study with an evaluation of three treatment regimens

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases Vol. 43; no. 3; pp. 353 - 360
• Main Authors: Bulgen, D Y, Binder, A I, Hazleman, B L, Dutton, J, Roberts, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism 01-06-1984; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Humans; Ice; Inflammatory joint diseases; Lidocaine - therapeutic use; Male; Medical sciences; Methylprednisolone - analogs & derivatives; Methylprednisolone - therapeutic use; Methylprednisolone Acetate; Middle Aged; Movement; Periarthritis - drug therapy; Periarthritis - rehabilitation; Periarthritis - therapy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Prospective Studies; Random Allocation; Shoulder Joint - physiopathology; Shoulder; Treatment; Periarthopathy
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.43.3.353

Forty-two patients with frozen shoulder were followed up closely for eight months. They were all taught pendular exercises and randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups: (a) intraarticular steroids, (b) mobilisations , (c) ice therapy, (d) no treatment. This study has shown that there is little long-term advantage in any of the treatment regimens but that steroid injections may benefit pain and range of movement in the early stages of the condition.