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Objective: To investigate whether combination of corticosteroid subdeltoid injections and physiotherapy was more effective than either treatment alone in chronic subacromial bursitis. Design: Prospective, three-arm randomised controlled trial. Setting: Rehabilitation department of an academic hospital. Subjects: Patients with chronic subacromial bursitis. Interventions: Patients were divided into corticosteroid injection (N = 36), physiotherapy (N = 40) and combined (N = 35) groups. Two corticosteroid subdeltoid injections in corticosteroid group, 8-week physical therapy emphasising on therapeutic exercise in physiotherapy group, and combined both treatments in combined group. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome measures were pain visual analogue scale and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index at 8 weeks after finishing treatment. The secondary outcome measures were active range of motion, Shoulder Disability Questionnaire, Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index, patient's evaluation of treatment effect, and symptom recurrence. Results: Group comparison showed significant statistical difference in shoulder flexion (P < 0.003) and patient's evaluation of treatment effect (P < 0.001). The time and group interactions comparison revealed significant statistical differences in pain score (P < 0.024), external rotation (P < 0.044) and patient's evaluation of treatment effect (P < 0.001). The above statistics were in favour of the corticosteroid and combined groups rather than physiotherapy group. The percentage of recurrence was 36.1, 7.5 and 17.1 in the corticosteroid, physiotherapy and combined groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Corticosteroid subdeltoid injection, or combined with physiotherapy, was superior to physiotherapy alone, but the recurrence rate was least in the physiotherapy group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine the effects of reminders, encouragement, and educational messages delivered by mobile phone on shoulder exercise compliance and improvements in shoulder function among patients with a frozen shoulder. Design and Methods A randomized controlled trial design was used. A convenience sample of patients with a frozen shoulder in an orthopedic outpatient clinic was recruited. All participants were instructed on how to do shoulder exercises and were provided with a printed pamphlet about shoulder exercises. Then, the intervention group received reminders, encouragement, and educational messages by mobile phone daily for the next 2 weeks, while the comparison group did not. Findings The intervention group had higher compliance with shoulder exercises than did the comparison group ( t = 2.263, p = .03) and had significant improvements in shoulder forward flexion ( F = 12.067, p = .001), external rotation ( F = 13.61, p = .001), and internal rotation ( F = 5.903, p = .018) compared to those in the comparison group after the 2-week intervention. Conclusions The text messages significantly increased patient compliance with shoulder exercises and thus improved patients' shoulder range of motion. Clinical Relevance Hospital or clinics can send appropriate messages to patients via text message platforms in order to remind and encourage them to do shoulder exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]