Living with a frozen shoulder, known as adhesive capsulitis, can make simple daily movements like reaching for a shelf or dressing yourself feel impossible. While many people turn to physical therapy to regain motion, some find they need extra help to manage the discomfort and stiffness of the joint.
A review of data from 198 adults showed that combining physical therapy with corticosteroid injections—a steroid medicine injected directly into the joint—led to better results than doing physical therapy alone. Patients in the combined group saw significantly greater improvements in their overall function scores and their ability to move the arm in several directions, including flexion and abduction.
While both groups showed progress, the combination was more effective for improving range of motion in the short term. It is important to note that while this approach helps with movement and function, it did not show a significant difference in pain scores or internal rotation compared to therapy alone. These findings focus on short-term improvements, so talk to your doctor about how these options might fit into your specific recovery plan.
