Effectiveness of Additional or Standalone Corticosteroid Injections Compared to Physical Therapist Interventions in Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Lazzarini Stefano Giuseppe , Buraschi Riccardo , Pollet Joel , Bettariga Francesco , Pancera Simone , Pedersini Paolo 
Published: January 2025

Importance

Rotator cuff tendinopathy represents the most prevalent cause of shoulder pain, the third most common musculoskeletal disorder after low back pain and knee pain.

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of corticosteroid injection(s), alone or in combination with anesthetic injection or any other physical therapist interventions, compared to physical therapist interventions alone in adults with rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Design

This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PubMed, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Scopus, Web of Science, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) were searched from inception to March 2023. Meta-analysis using a random-effects model was performed. Risk of bias and certainty of the evidence for the primary outcomes were assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, respectively. The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42021240882).

Participants

Participants were adults with rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Interventions

Corticosteroid injection(s), alone or in combination with anesthetic injection or with any other physical therapist interventions, was compared to physical therapist interventions alone.

Main Outcomes

Pain, function, quality of life, patient-rated overall improvement, and adverse events were the main outcomes.

Results

Fifteen randomized controlled trials (1785 participants) met the inclusion criteria. At short term, corticosteroid injection coupled with physical therapist interventions and compared to the same interventions alone might have resulted in some small to moderate improvements in pain and function. Conversely, corticosteroid injection alone seemed not to be more effective than physical therapist interventions in improving pain and function in most of the studies included. At mid- and long-term follow-up assessments corticosteroid injection seemed not to be more effective than any physical therapist interventions.

Conclusions

This study highlights the potential effectiveness of corticosteroid injection(s) in rotator cuff tendinopathy for pain and function at short term at best, especially in combination with physical therapist interventions. However, the evidence is of moderate to mostly very low certainty. Additional high-quality research considering core outcomes is therefore needed.

Relevance

Corticosteroid injection(s) seems not to be superior to physical therapist interventions, other than resulting in some transient improvements at short term if provided together with other physical therapist interventions, in adults with rotator cuff tendinopathy. Furthermore, considering the potential adverse events associated with the injections, physical therapist interventions may be an important stand-alone treatment option.