Clinical Measurement Unit

A randomized placebo-controlled trial of oral prednisolone in the treatment of adhesive capsulitis

A/Prof Rachelle Buchbinder, Dr Jan Hoving, Dr Sally Green, A/Prof Stephen Hall, A/Prof Andrew Forbes

This project aimed to establish whether a 3 week course of 30mg oral prednisolone is effective in reducing pain and disability, and improving range of motion, in a population with shoulder pain classified as adhesive capsulitis, and pain greater than 7 out of 10 at baseline.

Publications arising from this study: Buchbinder R, Hoving J, Green S. Forbes A, Hall S, Nash P. Short-course prednisolone therapy for the stiff painful shoulder (adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder): A randomised placebo-controlled trial.Ann Rheum Dis 2004; 63:1460-1469