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Adhesive Capsulitis: Prospective Analysis of Efficacy and Financial Impact for Use of Physical Therapy in Treatment
Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
Summary
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 Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
260
Start Date
2014-11
Completion Date
2027-12
Last Updated
2025-10-27
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Interventions
Physical Therapy
The following link contains the protocol for physical therapy that will be used in the study. There are no other ancillary devices or drugs used in this study aside from the depot methylprednisolone listed under interventions. Brigham and Women's/Massachusetts General Standard of Care Guidelines for Physical Therapy in Treatment of Adhesive Capsulitis: http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Patients\_Visitors/pcs/rehabilitationservices/Physical%20Therapy%20Standards%20of%20Care%20and%20Protocols/Shoulder%20-%20Adhesive%20capsulitis.pdf
Depot Methylprednisolone
40 mg of depot methylprednisolone in solution with 2 cc of 1% lidocaine
Locations (1)
MGH, Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States