The aim of this study was to compare the effects of steroid iontophoresis (SI) and electrotherapy (ET) on bicipital tendonitis. Forty-seven patients with bicipital tendonitis, diagnosed with ultrasonography, were divided randomly into two groups. Hot pack (15 min), ultrasound (1.5 w/cm2, 5 min) and a standard exercise program were given to all patients. Additionally SI (0.5% hydrocortisone acetate given with the negative electrode, 3-4 mA galvanic current, 10 min) was applied in the first group, and electrotherapy (interferential current, 0-100 Hz, 10 min) was applied in the second group. All patients were evaluated at pre-treatment, post-treatment and one month later with the following assessment tools: Pain (night pain, at rest, with normal activities and with strenuous activities) with numeric scale (0-10); range of motion (ROM) with goniometry and with the ROM items of the Constant shoulder scale; patient satisfaction with numeric scale (0-10); disability by using function section of the Pennsylvania shoulder scale. In SI group, all assessment parameters revealed statistically significant improvement at post-treatment and one month later (p<0.05). The ET group showed statistically significant improvement at post-treatment (p<0.05) however pain at rest, abduction, internal and external rotations and total Constant ROM score revealed no statistically significant difference one month later (p>0.05). As a result SI and ET were both found to be effective in shoulder pain with bicipital tendonitis in early post treatment period. Additional application of SI to the conventional physical therapy in these patients seems to provide a better and more prolonged clinical and functional improvement.