Trigger Point Injections Compared With Joint Injections for Shoulder Osteoarthritis Pain
Compares steroid injections into muscle trigger points versus the shoulder joint in shoulder osteoarthritis.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Clinical Study of Myofascial Trigger Points(MTrPs) Injection in the Treatment of Shoulder Osteoarthritis(OA)
Key facts
- Where
- Beijing, ChinaSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults aged 45 or older with shoulder osteoarthritis who still have pain after usual treatment. It compares steroid injection into painful muscle spots with injection into the joint.
- Age
- 45 years or older
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Shoulder osteoarthritis confirmed on X-ray (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1-4), lasting more than 3 months, with at least one myofascial trigger point found on examination.
- Earlier treatment
- Pain score of 3 or more on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) despite earlier conservative drug treatment. No joint injection in the past 6 months.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Allergy to trial medicines such as corticosteroids
- Alcohol abuse, long-term opioid use or long-term steroid treatment
- Severe nerve, liver, kidney or heart disease, clotting problems, stomach ulcer, diabetes or inflammatory rheumatic disease
- Joint injection in the past 6 months or planned joint replacement surgery
- Pregnant or breastfeeding, or an infection
Read by machine on 13 November 2026.
Where in China
- Beijing Tiantan HospitalBeijing, ChinaContact: Fang LuoTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Beijing Tiantan Hospital
- Trial code
- NCT07347054
- Record updated
- 16 January 2026
- Original description
Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a common disease in China, with a high incidence among the elderly, and has a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Shoulder osteoarthritis is a common type of CMP. Currently, both domestic and international studies have confirmed that glucocorticoid injection at myofascial trigger points(MTrPs) can alleviate patients' pain symptoms. MTrPs injection is safe and easy to operate, and can improve the clinical management efficiency of patients with shoulder osteoarthritis. Therefore, we designed a prospective, randomized controlled, blinded outcome, non-inferiority study to compare the long-term clinical efficacy of glucocorticoid injection at myofascial trigger points and complex intra-articular injection in treating shoulder osteoarthritis. Patients will be randomly divided into two groups and receive either glucocorticoid injection at MTrPs or joint cavities. After treatment, patients will be followed up for 2 years. Their NRS scores, WOMAC scores, Patient Global Impression of Change(PGIC) scale, and adverse reactions will be recorded at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. If the results indicate that the clinical efficacy of myofascial trigger point injection for shoulder osteoarthritis is not inferior to that of injection at intra-articular injection, it will provide a safe and simple treatment option that is easy to promote for patients who do not respond to conservative treatment.Read full original descriptionShow less
Clinical Study of Myofascial Trigger Points(MTrPs) Injection in the Treatment of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain(CMP), Chronic Migraine and Cervicogenic Headache
Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a common disease in China, with a high incidence among the elderly, and has a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Shoulder osteoarthritis is a common type of CMP. Currently, both domestic and international studies have confirmed that glucocorticoid injection at myofascial trigger points(MTrPs) can alleviate patients' pain symptoms. MTrPs injection is safe and easy to operate, and can improve the clinical management efficiency of patients with shoulder osteoarthritis. Therefore, we designed a prospective, randomized controlled, blinded outcome, non-inferiority study to compare the long-term clinical efficacy of glucocorticoid injection at myofascial trigger points and complex intra-articular injection in treating shoulder osteoarthritis. Patients will be randomly divided into two groups and receive either glucocorticoid injection at MTrPs or joint cavities. After treatment, patients will be followed up for 2 years. Their NRS scores, WOMAC scores, Patient Global Impression of Change(PGIC) scale, and adverse reactions will be recorded at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. If the results indicate that the clinical efficacy of myofascial trigger point injection for shoulder osteoarthritis is not inferior to that of injection at intra-articular injection, it will provide a safe and simple treatment option that is easy to promote for patients who do not respond to conservative treatment.
Inclusion: Diagnosis of shoulder osteoarthritis with radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1-4) confirmed by at least two orthopedic surgeons, pain specialists, or general practitioners, with physical examination confirming at least one myofascial trigger point; Disease duration exceeding 3 months; Age ≥ 45 years; Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score ≥ 3 points despite prior conservative pharmacological treatment; Signed informed consent form.
Exclusion: Alcohol abuse; long-term use of opioids (exceeding 2 weeks or more than 3 days per week for over 1 month); suspected use of sedative or analgesic medications; patients on long-term steroid therapy; Intra-articular injection within the past 6 months or planned joint replacement surgery; History of allergy to trial medications such as corticosteroids; Severe neurological disorders, significant hepatic or renal dysfunction, heart failure, coagulation abnormalities, gastric ulcer, diabetes, inflammatory rheumatic diseases, etc; Presence of local or systemic infection; Inability to use pain assessment scales; Pregnant or lactating patients.