Publication:

Intraarticular corticosteroid injection in adhesive capsulitis: are two doses better than a single dose? a randomized prospective study

Background The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a single dose and two doses of intraarticular corticosteroids injections followed by home exercise programme in patients with adhesive capsulitis.

Methods The study was done over two years. Eighty four patients with adhesive capsulitis were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups: In group I 38 patients were given a single dose of intraarticular corticosteroid injection (1 mL, 40 mg methylprednisolone acetate) followed by a twelve-week home exercise programme.  In group II 46 patients were given two doses of intraarticular corticosteroid injection (1 mL, 40 mg methylprednisolone acetate) at first and third week followed by home exercise programme. All the patients were assed for functional out come at six and twelve weeks using Shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) and Constant Moore’s shoulder score (CMS).

Results Both groups showed considerable improvement from the baseline, but no significant differences were found between the two groups at twelve weeks. Mean changes in range of motion and shoulder pain and disability index–pain score were statistically no different between the two groups at the twelve weeks.

Conclusions Intraarticular corticosteroids have the additive effect of providing rapid pain relief when combined with home exercise program in adhesive capsulitis.  No significant differences in outcome were found in patients treated with a single or two doses of corticosteroid injection.