Suprascapular Nerve Block to Improve Tolerance and Outcomes of Shoulder Hydrodistension in Adhesive Capsulitis

Adhesive capsulitis ("frozen shoulder") causes significant pain and loss of shoulder mobility. Shoulder hydrodistension is an established treatment that can improve movement and reduce symptoms, but the procedure itself may be painful and difficult for some patients to tolerate. This randomized clinical trial will evaluate whether performing a suprascapular nerve block with local anesthetic immediately before hydrodistension can reduce pain during the procedure, improve patient comfort, and potentially enhance clinical outcomes. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: hydrodistension alone, or suprascapular nerve block followed by hydrodistension. Pain, shoulder mobility, functional ability, psychological measures, and quality of life will be assessed at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure. The study aims to determine whether adding a suprascapular nerve block provides better tolerability and improved recovery for patients with adhesive capsulitis.

NCT Number	NCT07380087
Lead Sponsor	Universidade do Porto
Conditions	Adhesive Capsulitis, Adhesive Capsulitis of Unspecified Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis, Shoulder, Frozen Shoulder, Shoulder Pain, Shoulder Stiffness
Enrollment	50 participants
Start Date	2026-03-01
Primary Completion	2026-07-31 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-07-31 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-02-02