Ultrasound-guided shoulder injections for frozen shoulder
Effectiveness of USG-Guided Shoulder Injections as an Adjunct to a Home Exercise Program in the Conservative Management of Painful Frozen Shoulder and Its Association With Pain Phenotypes
This tests whether adding ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block, with or without a subacromial injection, to a home exercise program reduces pain and improves shoulder function in adults with chronic frozen shoulder.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 68 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Konya Beyhekim Training and Research Hospital Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Konya, Selçuklu) |
| Trial ID | NCT07493213 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a prospective, randomized trial enrolling 68 adults (age 18–75) with chronic primary frozen shoulder refractory to routine analgesics. All participants follow a standardized home-based exercise program and are randomized to receive either an ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block alone or the same nerve block combined with a subacromial injection. Outcomes include pain intensity (VAS) and function (SPADI), measured at baseline and over a 20-week follow-up. Clinical and imaging exams are used to confirm diagnosis and exclude alternate shoulder pathology prior to enrollment.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–75 with primary frozen shoulder lasting at least three months, pain ≥4/10 on VAS, and ≥30° restriction in two planes who can follow a home exercise program and consent to participate.
Not a fit: Patients with secondary shoulder problems such as rotator cuff tear, significant arthritis, prior shoulder surgery, neurological disorders, or systemic/inflammatory rheumatic disease are unlikely to benefit from the interventions tested here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding targeted ultrasound-guided injections to home exercises could provide faster pain relief and improved shoulder mobility for people with chronic frozen shoulder.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies of suprascapular nerve blocks and subacromial injections have shown mixed short-term pain relief, but durable functional benefits for adhesive capsulitis remain uncertain.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Age between 18 and 75 years and willingness to participate in the study Presence of shoulder pain lasting at least 3 months and a diagnosis of primary frozen shoulder Pain intensity ≥ 4/10 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), resistant to medical treatment/analgesics Restriction of ≥30 degrees in at least two planes of shoulder motion (flexion, abduction, or external rotation) \- Exclusion Criteria: * History of shoulder trauma Presence of neurological conditions such as stroke, brachial plexus injury, Parkinson's disease, or cervical spine pathology with or without radiculopathy History of shoulder surgery, shoulder malignancy or tumor, or prior shoulder manipulation Presence of shoulder arthritis, rotator cuff tear, other shoulder injuries, or thoracic outlet syndrome Systemic diseases affecting the shoulder, severe degeneration or trauma (e.g., osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, labral or articular cartilage injuries), or inflammatory rheumatic diseases Steroid injection to the affected extremity within the last 3 months, use of oral steroids or NSAIDs, or ongoing surgical/interventional treatment Pregnancy or lactation Uncontrolled diabetes, heart failure, or uncontrolled systemic diseases (e.g., liver failure, chronic kidney disease, significant endocrine disorders) Communication problems or severe psychiatric disorders
Where this trial is running
Konya, Selçuklu
- Konya Beyhekim Training and Research Hospital — Konya, Selçuklu, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Fulya Ece URKAN, MD
- Email: ece.1608@hotmail.com
- Phone: +905068994339
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.