← Back to Clinical Trials
Recruiting Phase 4 NCT02283996

NCT02283996 Adhesive Capsulitis: Prospective Analysis of Efficacy and Financial Impact for Use of Physical Therapy in Treatment

◆ AI Clinical Summary
Plain-language summary for patients
Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT02283996
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 4
Sponsor Massachusetts General Hospital
Condition Adhesive Capsulitis
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 260 participants
Start Date 2014-11
Primary Completion 2026-12

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age N/A
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Physical TherapyDepot Methylprednisolone

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

Phase 4 studies follow an already-approved treatment in real-world conditions to monitor long-term safety and effectiveness.

This trial targets 260 participants in total. It began in 2014-11 with a primary completion date of 2026-12.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to identify individuals 18 or older who have diagnostic presentation of adhesive capsulitis and randomize them into two arms, distinguished by use of physical therapy and steroid injections compared with steroid injections followed by watchful waiting. This prospective study will be used to determine whether there is a significant impact on patient outcome and whether the additional financial burden is justified. There are no experimental interventions for this study. The use of physical therapy, oral and parenteral corticosteroids, and watchful waiting are offered following the standard of care for adhesive capsulitis. Our hypothesis is that patients will not have a significant difference in outcome between the two study arms. One group will undergo regular physical therapy with corticosteroid injections (Arm 1) and the other will have steroid injections during the inflammatory phase only and then be regularly observed (Arm 2). We also hypothesize there will be a significant financial burden associated with the PT arm that is not justified with the possibility of increased symptom reports in that arm.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Patient must be 18 years or older * Must meet the following definition for adhesive capsulitis as defined by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons: Self-limiting condition resulting from any inflammatory process about the shoulder in which capsular scar tissue is produced, resulting in pain and limited range of motion; also called frozen shoulder * Must be amenable to randomization into either cohort Exclusion Criteria: * Non-English speaking patients * Pregnant women (women of childbearing potential will be advised to undergo regular pregnancy testing) * Patients who had previously undergone operative therapy for the condition

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Scott D Martin, MD

✉ sdmartin@partners.org

📞 617-732-5329

Principal Investigator

Scott D Martin, MD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Massachusetts General Hospital

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT02283996 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Adhesive Capsulitis. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

What phase is the NCT02283996 trial and what does that mean for participants?

Phase 4 studies are conducted after a treatment has been approved. They monitor long-term safety and real-world effectiveness in a broader patient population.

Is NCT02283996 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT02283996 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at sdmartin@partners.org for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT02283996 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Boston, United States.

Who is sponsoring the NCT02283996 clinical trial?

NCT02283996 is sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital. The principal investigator is Scott D Martin, MD at Massachusetts General Hospital. The trial plans to enroll 260 participants.

Related Trials

ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: April 2026  ·  Data Methodology