Effect and safety of Huangqi-Guizhi-Wuwu Decoction and Erxian Decoction in the treatment of frozen shoulder: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect and safety of Huangqi-Guizhi-Wuwu Decoction (HGWD) and Erxian Decoction (EXD) in the treatment of frozen shoulder (FS). METHODS: We will compressively search potential randomized controlled trials from electronic databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. We will search all of them from inception of each electronic database up to the present without language limitations. Two researchers will conduct selection of study, data extraction, and study quality evaluation independently. Study quality will be identified using Cochrane risk of bias tool. Statistical analysis will be performed using RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: This study will summarize high quality evidence of randomized controlled trials on exploring the effect and safety of HGWD and EXD in the treatment of FS. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study will provide helpful evidence of the effect and safety of HGWD and EXD in the treatment of FS to facilitate the clinical practice and guideline development. STUDY REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202040070.