A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Individualized Homeopathic Medicines in Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder is a painful, often prolongedcondition that is commonly managed in the primary care setting and requirescareful clinical diagnosis and management. Despite over a hundred years of treating frozen shoulder, the definition, diagnosis, pathology and most efficacioustreatments are still unclear. Systemic reviews of current treatments forfrozen shoulder examine the evidence base behind physiotherapy, both oral andintra-articular steroid, hydro-dilatation, manipulation under anaesthesiaand arthroscopic capsular release. Frozen shoulder is a self-limiting condition,lasting on average 2-3 years, and some study shows 20-50% of sufferers continueto have pain and restricted movement beyond 3 years. The precise prevalence is unknown, thus 2-5% foundin general population. Homeopathy treatment for the said condition is claimed to be beneficial, still systematic research evidences remain compromised. In this prospective, double blind, randomised, placebo controlled, parallel arm trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of individualised homeopathic treatment against placebo in treatment of frozen shoulder at Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, 128 patients will be randomised in 1:1 ratio into either individualised homeopathic medicines or identical placebo. Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) will be used as the primary and secondary outcome measures respectively, measured at baseline, and every month up to 3 months. Comparative analysis will be carried out to detect group differences, if any. Results will be published in scientific journals.