What is extracorporeal shock wave therapy studying for frozen shoulder?

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is being studied to see if adding it to corticosteroid injections and physical therapy can help improve pain and movement in frozen shoulder. The trial compares ESWT against a sham treatment to evaluate its potential benefits. This research is sponsored by Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital.

Who may be eligible for this frozen shoulder clinical trial?

Adults aged 20 to 80 years with shoulder pain lasting at least one month and significant loss of shoulder movement may be eligible. Participants must be willing to receive ESWT, corticosteroid injections, and physical therapy. People with severe systemic diseases or recent shoulder treatments may not qualify. Please review eligibility criteria for more details.

Is there any cost to participate in this frozen shoulder clinical trial?

Study-related care, including the study treatments and all trial visits, is provided at no cost. However, personal travel expenses to and from the study sites may vary and are not guaranteed to be covered. Participants should plan accordingly for any travel needs.

Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable

Age: 20Years - 80Years

All Genders

ID06491745

Is Adding Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy to Physiotherapy and Corticosteroid Injection Beneficial for Frozen Shoulder?

Led by Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital · Updated on 2025-12-30

Participants Needed

Research Sites

126 weeks

Total Duration

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a common condition involving pain and limited movement in the shoulder joint, which can lead to difficulties in daily activities and reduced quality of life. It can occur without an obvious cause or be related to medical issues such as injury, inflammation, or diabetes. This trial aims to explore whether adding extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to standard treatments can provide additional benefits for those with frozen shoulder, as this effect has not yet been fully established. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the ESWT group or the sham ESWT group. Both groups will receive two corticosteroid injections into the shoulder joint and subdeltoid bursa, spaced two weeks apart, along with an 8-week physical therapy program. The ESWT group will receive four weekly sessions of active ESWT, while the sham group will receive four weekly sessions of minimal energy ESWT to maintain blinding. Throughout the study, participants will be assessed for pain levels, shoulder function, and range of motion at the start and at 1, 2, 4, and 6 months after treatment begins. Evaluations will also include questionnaires about disability and overall health. These assessments will help determine the impact of adding ESWT on shoulder pain and disability, monitored carefully by researchers until the study's completion at six months.