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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
Rat Model of Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder
Published on: September 28, 2018
Association of Cervical Disease and Metabolic Comorbidities with Adhesive Capsulitis in Patients with Shoulder Pain:
Chang-Hyung Lee1, Siwon Yoon2, Jung Hyun Yang3
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 626-770, Republic of Korea.
Background:
The prevalence of adhesive capsulitis (AC) is estimated to be 2-5% in the general population. However, the etiology of AC remains unclear. Among the various proposed factors, the precise role of cervical disease, and the severity of cervical degeneration, in the development of AC has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to analyze the contribution of cervical disease to AC in patients with shoulder pain.
Methods:
A total of 409 patients who visited the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine for shoulder pain were retrospectively reviewed. The outcome variable was the presence of AC. In addition to cervical disease, other independent variables affecting AC, including sex, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, thyroid disease, immobilization after surgery, rotator cuff tear, subacromial spur, and shoulder joint osteoarthritis were reviewed. To compare the two groups, an independent t-test or chi-square test was performed for continuous and categorical data. Multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the effects of independent factors on AC, adjusting for confounders.
Results:
Among the 409 patients, 176 (43.0%) were diagnosed with AC. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that diabetes (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.55-5.91, p = 0.001) and cervical disease (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.75-5.25, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with increased odds of AC. In contrast, increasing age (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.98, p = 0.007), dyslipidemia (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.31-0.98, p = 0.044), and postoperative immobilization (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.41-0.99, p = 0.046) were associated with decreased odds of AC. The prevalence of AC increased with the severity of cervical degeneration.
Conclusion:
In patients with shoulder pain, diabetes and cervical disease were positively associated with AC, whereas age, dyslipidemia, and postoperative immobilization showed inverse associations. These findings suggest that both metabolic and cervical factors may contribute to the development of AC, highlighting the importance of considering cervical pathology in patients with shoulder pain.
