METHODS

Design:

randomised placebo controlled trial.

Allocation:

concealed.*

Blinding:

patients and outcome assessors.*

Follow up period:

12 weeks.

Setting:

St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin, Ireland and the Repatriation Hospital in Adelaide, South Australia.

Patients:

83 unselected patients (108 shoulders) (mean age 73 y, 52% men) with chronic shoulder pain of ⩾3 months’ duration resulting from degenerative disease (43 patients, 56 shoulders) or rheumatoid arthritis (40 patients, 52 shoulders). Exclusion criteria included a known allergy …