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Physical therapy or home exercises compared with no treatment for shoulder joint arthritis

Compares supervised therapy, home exercises, or waiting, in adults with glenohumeral osteoarthritis.

Key facts

Who runs it
State University of New York at Buffalo
Where
Buffalo, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Glenohumeral OsteoArthritis Therapy Trial
Status
Enrolling by invitation
People taking part
125 people, planned
Started
17 Jun 2026
Expected to end
30 Jun 2028
Type of study
Interventional, 3 groupsOne group gets no study treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • Physical therapy
  • Home physical therapy
Record updated
4 August 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

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 with arthritis of the main shoulder joint (glenohumeral arthritis). It compares 12 weeks of physical therapy, home exercise, or no treatment.

Age
Over 18 years (adults).
Sex
All sexes can join.
Disease stage
Glenohumeral arthritis from wear and tear. Arthritis caused by inflammation, past injury or rotator cuff tear damage cannot join.
Earlier treatment
No corticosteroid injection in the affected shoulder within 6 weeks of starting physical therapy. No surgery on the painful shoulder in the past year. No failed 6-week course of physical therapy within the last year. Not in a physical therapy program for more than 2 weeks now.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Avascular necrosis (loss of blood supply to the bone) of the shoulder joint
  • Daily opioid use (tramadol or codeine are allowed)
  • Shoulder replacement surgery planned in the next 6 months
  • Dementia or living in a nursing home
  • Pregnant women and prisoners

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 15 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Patient diagnosed with glenohumeral arthritis
  • Patient > 18 years of age (adults)
  • Patient provided written informed consent for study participation with IRB approved consent form
  • Patient is willing and able to comply with scheduled clinical and radiographic evaluations and physical therapy regimen

Who cannot take part

  • -Have had corticosteroid injections in the affected shoulder(s) within 6 weeks of starting physical therapy
  • Have failed a course of 6 weeks of physical therapy within the last year
  • Have had surgery on the symptomatic shoulder in the past year
  • Currently in a physical therapy program for more than 2 weeks
  • Have dementia
  • Those that have glenohumeral arthritis that is inflammatory, post traumatic or related to rotator cuff tear arthropathy in nature
  • Have avascular necrosis of the glenohumeral joint
  • Daily use of opioid (excluding tramadol or codeine)
  • Have planned total shoulder arthroplasty in the next 6 months
  • Live in a nursing home
  • Additionally special populations listed below such as pregnant women, and prisoners will be excluded

Where in United States

  • UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports MedicineBuffalo, United StatesEnrolling by invitation

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

Arthritis of the shoulder glenohumeral joint is a growing problem in an aging population. Treatment options for glenohumeral arthritis can be grouped into three main categories: 1) shoulder replacement surgery, 2) injections (corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid and PRP) and physical therapy (PT). Surgery comes with risks and the potential for implant failure or revision over time. Therefore, it is typical for doctors to prescribe injections and/or PT before discussing surgery. Sometimes, insurance companies will require PT before considering a shoulder operation. It is unknown if PT is effective for improving function or pain with patients with glenohumeral arthritis. The aim of this study is to compare pain and functional outcomes after undergoing a 12 week PT program, at home PT exercises or delaying conservative treatment.

The 3 groups in the trial

  • Physical TherapyTreatment being tested

    12 weeks of designated physical therapy focused on improving shoulder strength and range of motion

  • Home TherapyTreatment being tested

    12 weeks of home therapy program focused on improving shoulder strength and range of motion

    Treatment: Home physical therapy

  • Control GroupNo study treatment, for comparison

    Subjects continue with coping mechanisms for 12 week period, no intervention

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
A Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing Physical Therapy or Home Exercise With No Treatment for Patients With Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis
Plain-language title
Physical therapy or home exercises compared with no treatment for shoulder joint arthritisGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
Record updated
4 August 2026