[Frozen shoulder: A long-lasting and misunderstood clinical problem]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rheumatology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a painful fibrotic condition of the glenohumeral joint capsule.
• It presents in three phases: freezing (pain), frozen (stiffness), and thawing (resolution).
• Diagnosis can be difficult in the freezing phase due to overlapping symptoms with other shoulder conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding and management of frozen shoulder.
• To highlight diagnostic challenges and available treatment options.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on frozen shoulder.
• Analysis of diagnostic criteria and treatment efficacy.

Main Results:

• Conservative management, including physical therapy and injections, provides temporary symptom relief.
• Surgical interventions carry significant complication risks and are typically a last resort.

Conclusions:

• Current literature supports conservative management for temporary symptom reduction in frozen shoulder.
• Surgical options should be considered only after prolonged failure of conservative therapies due to potential complications.