Arthrographic distension with saline and steroid reduced pain and disability and improved range of motion in the short term in patients with painful stiff shoulder

Patients: 46 patients who were ≥18 years of age (mean age 57 y, 80% women), had pain and stiffness in predominantly 1 shoulder for ≥3 months (range, 96 to 402 d), and had restriction of passive motion of >30° in ≥2 planes of movement. Exclusion criteria included severe pain (>7 of 10 on visual analog scale) at rest, previous arthrographic distension, systemic inflammatory joint disease, osteoarthritis of the shoulder, calcification about the shoulder joint, and clinical suspicion of a complete rotator cuff tear. Follow-up was complete.