Table 3.

Patient eligibility criteria

Patients, including diabetics, are eligible for inclusion if they:

1. Are aged 18 years or older

2. Present with a clinical diagnosis of frozen shoulder characterised by restriction of passive external rotation in the affected shoulder to less than 50% of the contralateral shoulder

3. Have radiographs that exclude glenohumeral arthritis and other pathology

Patients will be excluded from this study if:

1. They have a bilateral concurrent frozen shoulder

2. They have a frozen shoulder secondary to trauma, i.e. trauma to the shoulder that required hospital care, e.g. fracture, dislocation, rotator cuff tear

3. They have a frozen shoulder secondary to other causes, e.g. recent breast surgery, radiotherapy

4. Any of the trial treatments are contraindicated, e.g. unfit for anaesthesia or corticosteroid injection

5. They are not resident in a catchment area of a trial site

6. They lack mental capacity to understand the trial or instructions for treatment