Comparing HILT, Steroid Injection, and Manual Therapy for Frozen Shoulder

NCT ID: NCT06916650

Last Updated: 2025-04-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

180 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-04-25

Study Completion Date

2027-08-01

Brief Summary

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This study compares three common treatments for frozen shoulder when added to a standard exercise program: High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT), a corticosteroid (steroid) injection into the shoulder joint, and hands-on manual therapy by a physical therapist. A fourth group will receive only the standard exercise program. The goal is to see which combination works best to reduce shoulder pain and improve shoulder function over 6 months. The main outcomes are changes in pain (VAS scale) and shoulder disability (SPADI questionnaire) at 12 weeks.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Frozen Shoulder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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HILT + Standard Exercise

Participants receive High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) 2 times/week for 6 weeks, plus the Standard Exercise Program.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) applied to anterior, lateral, posterior glenohumeral joint aspects. Three-phase protocol per session: (1) 10 J/cm² @ 10 Hz; (2) 12 J/cm² @ 2000 Hz; (3) 10 J/cm² @ 15 Hz. Total energy \~1200 J/session. Frequency: 2 sessions/week for 6 weeks (12 sessions total). Delivered by trained PTs.

Standard Exercise Program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Standardized program including pendulum exercises, active-assisted range of motion exercises (e.g., wand, wall climbs), stretching (e.g., cross-body, sleeper stretch), and progressive resistive exercises using resistance bands. Includes supervised instruction/progression and a daily home exercise program component. Supervised instruction frequency: 2 sessions/week for first 6 weeks, then 1 session/week for next 6 weeks (total 18 supervised sessions over 12 weeks). Delivered by trained PTs.

Corticosteroid Injection + Standard Exercise

Participants receive a single ultrasound-guided intra-articular corticosteroid injection at baseline, plus the Standard Exercise Program.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Ultrasound-Guided Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injection

Intervention Type DRUG

Single injection into the glenohumeral joint under ultrasound guidance. Consists of 40 mg methylprednisolone acetate combined with 4 ml of 1% lidocaine hydrochloride. Delivered at baseline by an experienced orthopedic physician.

Standard Exercise Program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Standardized program including pendulum exercises, active-assisted range of motion exercises (e.g., wand, wall climbs), stretching (e.g., cross-body, sleeper stretch), and progressive resistive exercises using resistance bands. Includes supervised instruction/progression and a daily home exercise program component. Supervised instruction frequency: 2 sessions/week for first 6 weeks, then 1 session/week for next 6 weeks (total 18 supervised sessions over 12 weeks). Delivered by trained PTs.

Manual Therapy + Standard Exercise

Participants receive manual therapy 2 times/week for 6 weeks, plus the Standard Exercise Program.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Manual Therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Skilled hands-on techniques including glenohumeral joint mobilizations (Maitland grades III-IV), posterior capsule stretching, scapular mobilization, and soft tissue techniques targeting restricted tissues. Session duration: \~30 minutes. Frequency: 2 sessions/week for 6 weeks (12 sessions total). Delivered by PTs specialized in manual therapy.

Standard Exercise Program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Standardized program including pendulum exercises, active-assisted range of motion exercises (e.g., wand, wall climbs), stretching (e.g., cross-body, sleeper stretch), and progressive resistive exercises using resistance bands. Includes supervised instruction/progression and a daily home exercise program component. Supervised instruction frequency: 2 sessions/week for first 6 weeks, then 1 session/week for next 6 weeks (total 18 supervised sessions over 12 weeks). Delivered by trained PTs.

Standard Exercise Alone

Participants receive the Standard Exercise Program only.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard Exercise Program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Standardized program including pendulum exercises, active-assisted range of motion exercises (e.g., wand, wall climbs), stretching (e.g., cross-body, sleeper stretch), and progressive resistive exercises using resistance bands. Includes supervised instruction/progression and a daily home exercise program component. Supervised instruction frequency: 2 sessions/week for first 6 weeks, then 1 session/week for next 6 weeks (total 18 supervised sessions over 12 weeks). Delivered by trained PTs.

Interventions

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High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT)

Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) applied to anterior, lateral, posterior glenohumeral joint aspects. Three-phase protocol per session: (1) 10 J/cm² @ 10 Hz; (2) 12 J/cm² @ 2000 Hz; (3) 10 J/cm² @ 15 Hz. Total energy \~1200 J/session. Frequency: 2 sessions/week for 6 weeks (12 sessions total). Delivered by trained PTs.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Ultrasound-Guided Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injection

Single injection into the glenohumeral joint under ultrasound guidance. Consists of 40 mg methylprednisolone acetate combined with 4 ml of 1% lidocaine hydrochloride. Delivered at baseline by an experienced orthopedic physician.

Intervention Type DRUG

Manual Therapy

Skilled hands-on techniques including glenohumeral joint mobilizations (Maitland grades III-IV), posterior capsule stretching, scapular mobilization, and soft tissue techniques targeting restricted tissues. Session duration: \~30 minutes. Frequency: 2 sessions/week for 6 weeks (12 sessions total). Delivered by PTs specialized in manual therapy.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Standard Exercise Program

Standardized program including pendulum exercises, active-assisted range of motion exercises (e.g., wand, wall climbs), stretching (e.g., cross-body, sleeper stretch), and progressive resistive exercises using resistance bands. Includes supervised instruction/progression and a daily home exercise program component. Supervised instruction frequency: 2 sessions/week for first 6 weeks, then 1 session/week for next 6 weeks (total 18 supervised sessions over 12 weeks). Delivered by trained PTs.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Age between 40 and 70 years, inclusive. Clinical diagnosis of primary (idiopathic) frozen shoulder, defined by shoulder pain and ≥50% restriction in passive external rotation compared to the contralateral (unaffected) shoulder.

Symptom duration between 3 and 9 months. Average shoulder pain intensity ≥ 4 on a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) over the past week.

Normal or age-appropriate radiographic findings of the glenohumeral joint (ruling out significant arthritis, fractures, calcific tendinitis).

Willingness and ability to attend scheduled treatment/assessment sessions. Ability to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

Secondary frozen shoulder (e.g., post-traumatic, post-surgical, related to systemic disease like diabetes - clarify if diabetes is excluded or just secondary FS from diabetes).

Clinical or imaging evidence of significant rotator cuff tear requiring specific management.

Radiographic evidence of moderate to severe glenohumeral osteoarthritis (e.g., Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥ 3).

Previous surgery on the index shoulder. Significant neurological disorders affecting shoulder or upper extremity function (e.g., cervical radiculopathy, stroke).

Received a corticosteroid injection in the index shoulder within the past 3 months.

Known contraindications to corticosteroid injections (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, allergy, local infection).

Known contraindications to High-Intensity Laser Therapy (e.g., active malignancy in the treatment area, photosensitivity, pacemaker over treatment area).

Current participation in another interventional clinical trial for shoulder pain.
Minimum Eligible Age

40 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

70 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Al Hayah University In Cairo

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Faculty of Physical Therapy, Al Hayah University

Cairo, , Egypt

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Egypt

Central Contacts

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Ibrahim Zoheiry, Ph.D

Role: CONTACT

01277774949

Mohamed ElMeligie, Ph.D

Role: CONTACT

Facility Contacts

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Mohamed ElMeligie, Ph.D

Role: primary

01159880001 ext. +20

Other Identifiers

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COMPARE-FS

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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