Objective To compare the clinical effect of ultrasound‑guided ozonated water and compound betamethasone injection in a glenohumeral joint on patients with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder (ACS). Methods From January 2019 to March 2020, eighty‑six patients with ACS in the Department of Pain Management in Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were selected. Those patients were divided into group T (ozonated water) and group C (compound betamethasone) according to the random number table method, with 43 cases in each group. Both groups received an ultrasound‑guided glenohumeral joint injection (once a week, three consecutive times), the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and range of motion (ROM) were recorded before treatment and 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment; the effective rate at 1 month and 3 months after treatment, Self‑Rating Scale of Sleep (SRSS) before treatment and 1 month, 3 months after the treatment, utilization of analgesics at 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months after the treatment, and adverse reactions were also recorded. Results At each time point after treatment between the two groups, the NRS and SRSS were significantly lower than those values before treatment while the ROM (flexion, extension, abduction) was significantly higher than those values before treatment, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The NRS and utilization of analgesics in group T at 3 months after treatment was higher than the amount of group C. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference at 2 weeks and 1 month after treatment between the two groups (P>0.05). There was also no significant difference in ROM (flexion, extension, abduction) at each time point before and after treatment between the two groups (P>0.05). At 3 months after treatment, the effective rate of group T was significantly lower than the rate in group C, the SRSS of group T was higher than group C, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the effective rate and SRSS at 1 month after treatment (P>0.05). Six patients in the two groups experienced short‑term pain aggravation after treatment, blood sugar was increased to varying degrees in some patients with diabetes, but there were no other obvious adverse reactions. Conclusions Ultrasound‑guided ozonated water and compound betamethasone both are effective methods for the treatment of ACS, but compound betamethasone has a better mid‑term clinical effect.