Subacromial Corticosteroid Injections and tDCS in Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

Rotator Cuff Injuries Clinical Trial

Official title: Characterization and Temporal Evaluation of the Effects of Subacromial Corticosteroid Injections and Trans-cranial Direct Current Stimulation in Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

This study evaluates the effects of corticosteroid injections over time, as well as the additional effect provided by subsequent transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the motor cortex on patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy of the shoulder. All patients will receive a subacromial corticosteroid injection. Two weeks later, a third will receive a treatment of tDCS, a third will receive a placebo a-tDCS treatment, and the last third will not receive any additional treatment.

Clinical Trial Description

Corticosteroid injections (CSI) are often used by physicians in the treatment of rotator cuff tendinopathy, a painful chronic degeneration of the tendons in the shoulder. However, the effect of CSI in comparison with placebo is disputed in the scientific literature, with most studies only showing mild short-term effect (less than six weeks) on pain compared to placebo injections.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique allowing to stimulate areas of the brain in order to change the excitability of the neurons. When the negative electrode is applied on the motor cortex of the brain, it increases the excitability of the neurons in that area, which in turns inhibits the activity of the thalamus, an area of the brain linked with the perception of pain. Some studies have shown that tDCS can improve chronic pain of different origins, such as lower back pain, fibromyalgia, stroke, osteoarthritis, and post-operative pain.

We tested whether applying tDCS following a CSI would have more effect on patient's pain, function, and activity, than CSI alone. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Rotator Cuff Impingement
• Rotator Cuff Impingement Syndrome
• Rotator Cuff Injuries
• Rotator Cuff Syndrome of Shoulder and Allied Disorders
• Rotator Cuff Tendinosis
• Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
• Syndrome
• Tendinopathy

• NCT number: NCT03967574
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Université de Sherbrooke
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: November 4, 2015
• Completion date: March 16, 2016