title: Is there a short-term benefit from an intra-articular steroid injection in female patients with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder treated with physiotherapy?
abstract: The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the possible short-term benefit of a single intra-articular corticosteroid injection in those patients treated with physiotherapy when compared to a group of patients undergoing physiotherapy only (PT only).
  
  
  
  A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify eligible patients treated over a 4-year period. All female patients between 40 years and 60 years with a confirmed clinical diagnosis of idiopathic adhesive capsulitis who completed a prescribed physiotherapy program were considered eligible. Sixty-three patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, but 22 were excluded because of missing data in the medical record. The remaining 41 patients comprise the study cohort; an experienced musculoskeletal physiotherapist assessed these patients both at initial presentation and at 12 weeks. Twenty patients with a mean age of 55.1 years underwent PT only and 21 patients with a mean age of 52.4 years received a single intra-articular dose of 40 mg methylprednisolone followed by physiotherapy. Outcome measures included the visual analogue scale (VAS) and measurement of range of motion.
  
  
  
  At final assessment (12 weeks), significant between-group differences were identified for the 'PT only' group for flexion ( p = 0.01) and abduction ( p = 0.008). When comparing the mean change from the initial assessment, a significant between-group difference was observed for abduction ( p = 0.03).
  
  
  
  The results of this study suggest that the intra-articular injection of a single dose of cortisone has no significant short-term benefit in female patients with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis managed with physiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Physiotherapy, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doho, Qatar.
authors.forename: Ancy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital; University of Queensland School of Medicine, Brisbane, Australia; Orthopaedic Research Centre of Australia (ORCA), Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tetsworth
authors.affiliation: 4 Medical School, University of Queensland, Australia; Faculty of Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Valiant Clinic/Houston Methodist Group, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hohmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002062:Bursitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012785:Shoulder Joint
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone
keywords: adhesive capsulitis; corticosteroid injection; physiotherapy; range of motion; visual analogue scale