ArticleOrthopaedic journal of sports medicine2026
Functional and Neurotrophic Outcomes After Physical Therapy and Injection-Based Treatments for Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: The FORTIS Pilot Randomized Trial.
Article in Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06631976 (Comparison of Conservative Treatment Methods for Sleep Disorders, Pain, and Shoulder Function in Patients With Supraspinatus Tendon Injury.), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Comparison of Conservative Treatment Methods for Sleep Disorders, Pain, and Shoulder Function in Patients With Supraspinatus Tendon Injury.
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6 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Rotator cuff tendinopathy (RCT) causes chronic shoulder pain, functional limitation, and sleep disturbance. Although physical therapy (PT) and injection-based interventions are widely used, their comparative clinical effects and neurotrophic mechanisms remain insufficiently defined. Purpose: To compare clinical and neurotrophic outcomes of PT alone versus PT combined with injection-based interventions in patients with chronic RCT. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 29 patients (29 shoulders) with MRI-confirmed supraspinatus tendinopathy and sleep disturbance (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score ≥5) were randomized to 1 of 4 groups: PT (n = 7), PT with subacromial steroid injection (PT + SSI; n = 6), PT with suprascapular nerve block (PT + SSNB; n = 8), or PT with platelet-rich plasma injection (PT + PRP; n = 8). All participants completed a standardized 12-week PT program. Clinical outcomes were assessed at baseline (time zero [T0]), 1 month (T1), and 3 months (T3). Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was measured at T0 and T1. Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests assessed within- and between-group differences. Results: All groups demonstrated clinical improvement, most consistently in pain, insomnia severity, shoulder function, and cognitive performance. PT + PRP improved across pain, insomnia, and shoulder function outcomes ( Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that PT alone was associated with coordinated short-term clinical improvement and neurotrophic correlates, supporting its role as a core component of nonoperative management of RCT. Injection-based adjuncts produced selective, time-limited effects. These findings suggest that structured PT should remain the cornerstone of nonoperative management, while injections may serve as adjuncts to facilitate short-term symptom relief and rehabilitation engagement rather than as stand-alone treatments. Registration: NCT06631976 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).
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