EVIDENCE-BASED REVIEWS & RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BRAZILIAN SOCIETY OF SHOULDER AND ELBOW SURGERY: HYALURONIC ACID INJECTION VERSUS PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR ROTATOR CUFF TENDINOPATHY IN ADULTS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Rotator cuff tendinopathy is a common cause of shoulder pain and disability, and the optimal nonoperative strategy remains debated. Physiotherapy is the mainstay of initial management, whereas hyaluronic acid injection has been proposed as an alternative or adjunct; their comparative effectiveness is uncertain. Methods: An evidence-based systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and the Regional Portal of the Virtual Health Library (BVS) up to February 2026. Randomized controlled trials comparing hyaluronic acid injection with physiotherapy in adults with rotator cuff tendinopathy were included. Outcomes were pain, function, range of motion, and quality of life. Certainty of evidence was assessed with the GRADE approach. Results: Two randomized controlled trials (130 participants) met the eligibility criteria. Hyaluronic acid injection was associated with greater short-term improvement in pain, range of motion, and quality of life than physiotherapy, particularly within the first three months. Functional outcomes were inconsistent: one trial reported comparable improvement between groups, whereas the other favored hyaluronic acid. Certainty of evidence was very low because of small sample sizes, risk of bias, and imprecision. Conclusion: Very low-quality evidence suggests that hyaluronic acid injection may provide superior short-term benefits over physiotherapy for rotator cuff tendinopathy, mainly up to three months. The available evidence remains limited and at high risk of bias; further high-quality studies are required. Level of evidence II; Systematic review.