The shoulder joint is a ball-and-socket joint which gives the arm a large range of motion. Patients with frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, experience pain and stiffness in their shoulders. This condition can make many normal activities difficult or impossible, but with successful treatment most patients will be able to resume their normal day-to-day activities.
Stages
Frozen shoulder typically develops in three stages, Family Doctor explains. The first stage, known as the painful stage, is marked by increasing pain in the shoulder and typically lasts between three and eight months. The adhesive stage, which occurs after the painful stage, lasts for four to six months and typically involves increasing stiffness in the shoulder, which can limit your range of motion. The final stage of frozen shoulder, known as the recovery stage, initially begins with little pain but extreme stiffness of the shoulder joint. Over time, the stiffness fades, allowing for a greater range of motion. This stage typically takes one to three months to complete.
Causes
The tendons, bones and ligaments in the shoulder are held together by a capsule made up of connective tissue, the Mayo Clinic explains. Adhesive capsulitis is caused by the capsule becoming abnormally thick and tight around the shoulder joint, which restricts the movement of these structures. Exactly what triggers this capsular thickening is not fully known.
Risk Factors
The Mayo Clinic identifies several risk factors that can contribute to the development of this condition. Most cases of frozen shoulder occur in people over the age of forty, and seventy percent of all cases are diagnosed in women. Frozen shoulder is also more common in people who have had prolonged periods of shoulder immobility. An increased risk of developing frozen shoulder is also associated with certain medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, thyroid problems, Parkinson's disease and tuberculosis.
Diagnosis
People with healthy shoulders should be able to fully extend their arms over their head, in front of them and to the sides. Healthy shoulders also allow people to bend their arms behind them and reach into their back pockets. Inability to perform any of these motions, Family Doctor explains, is indicative of frozen shoulder. People with limited range of motion in their shoulders may need an MRI or CT scan to rule out any other structural or anatomical problems of the shoulder.
Treatment
The pain caused by adhesive capsulitis is commonly treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, as well corticosteroid injections. Medline Plus also notes that intense daily physical therapy can help patients regain their range of motion in the shoulder joint. In cases in which physical therapy is not able to restore normal shoulder function, surgery may be needed to remove scar tissue and help loosen the joint capsule.
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