Frozen Shoulder: Diagnosis and Management.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rheumatology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition.
• Characterized by insidious onset of shoulder pain and progressive restriction of both active and passive range of motion.
• Typically self-limiting, resolving within 1-2 years without specific intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of frozen shoulder.
• To discuss current diagnostic and treatment modalities.
• To highlight areas for future research.

Main Methods:

• Clinical diagnosis based on characteristic symptoms and physical examination findings.
• Review of current literature on pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management.
• Ancillary role of imaging in differential diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Diagnosis is primarily clinical, relying on global motion restriction and pain.
• Standard treatments include physical therapy, NSAIDs, and corticosteroid injections.
• No current treatment has demonstrated the ability to alter the condition's long-term natural course.

Conclusions:

• Frozen shoulder is a clinical diagnosis with a predictable natural history.
• While treatments offer symptomatic relief, they do not change the overall prognosis.
• Future research should investigate interventions that can modify the disease trajectory and improve long-term outcomes.