Study Summary

13 randomized controlled trials including 1056 patients with adhesive capsulitis were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis comparing platelet-rich plasma (PRP) vs corticosteroid (CS) injections. Pooled outcomes of interest included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores, and shoulder range of motion (ROM) measures including abduction, flexion, external rotation, and internal rotation. PRP and CS demonstrated comparable short-term pain relief and functional outcomes at 1 month, while PRP showed significantly greater improvements in pain, function, and multiple range of motion measures at longer-term follow-up. Overall, the findings suggest that PRP may provide more sustained clinical benefits than CS for adhesive capsulitis, particularly during the chronic or fibrotic stages of disease.