Steroid shot vs electrical nerve stimulation: which eases biceps tendon pain?
NCT ID NCT07817433
First seen Sep 14, 2026 · Last updated Sep 15, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers compare two treatments for long head of the biceps brachii tendinopathy, a common cause of shoulder pain. One group receives a single ultrasound-guided injection of triamcinolone acetonide and lidocaine around the tendon. The other group receives transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) at 200 Hz for 15 minutes per session, over 15 sessions. Everyone also does a supervised physiotherapy exercise program. The study measures pain, shoulder disability, ultrasound findings, and clinical tests at the start and again at 1 and 3 months.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- A single ultrasound-guided injection of triamcinolone acetonide mixed with lidocaine, compared with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- What this could lead to
- If one approach works better, doctors could have clearer guidance on how to treat long head biceps tendon pain, which often lingers despite rest and medication.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small study of 42 people at one hospital, so the results may not apply broadly. Steroid injections can cause temporary pain flares or, with repeated use, weaken the tendon over time.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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42 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2025
- Finished
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Feb 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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19 to 74 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age \>18 years and \<75 years. * Provision of written informed consent. * Long head of the biceps brachii tendinopathy confirmed by ultrasonography (USG) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). * Shoulder pain lasting longer than 1 month. * Failure of previous medical treatment. Exclusion Criteria: * Long head of the biceps brachii tendon rupture confirmed by ultrasonography (USG) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). * Wound and/or infection at the intervention site. * Steroid injection for the same diagnosis within the previous 3 months. * Known allergy to triamcinolone and/or lidocaine. * Sensory impairment in the shoulder or upper extremity. * Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. * Diagnosis of epilepsy. * Full-thickness rotator cuff tear confirmed by ultrasonography (USG) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Ankara Gaziler Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital
Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)