Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Versus Corticosteroid for Treatment of Shoulder Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

6 randomized controlled trials comparing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to corticosteroid injections in patients with shoulder pain were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The purpose of this study was to compare the treatment efficacy of both interventions in hopes of determining an optimal conservative option for shoulder pain. The primary outcome of interest was remission, while pain relief and active range of abduction were also assessed. Pooled findings revealed corticosteroid injections achieved remission more effectively than NSAIDs, but pain relief and active range of abduction were comparable between groups.