This meta-analysis found that corticosteroid injections did not outperform placebo injections in reducing pain in patients with rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy at the 3-month follow-up.
A limited, temporary reduction in pain was present between 4 and 8 weeks post injection. At least 5 patients needed to be treated to obtain such a small short-term pain relief in one patient. Additional injections did not improve outcomes.