Collagen injections versus dry needling in the treatment of chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial.

Study Summary

40 patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy were randomized to receive ultrasound-guided collagen injections (USG-CI) or ultrasound-guided dry needling (USG-DN). The primary outcomes of interest were pain relief and functional improvement assessed using the Constant-Murley Score (CMS) and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. The secondary outcome of interest was tendon appearance on ultrasound using the Ingwersen score. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months, with ultrasound assessed at baseline and 3 months. Overall, the results of the study revealed that both treatments improved pain and function, but USG-CI produced greater improvements in clinical scores and tendon morphology at 1 and 3 months. These findings suggest that USG-CI may be a feasible and safe treatment option for chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy, although larger and longer-term studies are needed.