Frozen shoulder: a long-term prospective study.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rheumatology
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Background:

• The natural history and long-term outcomes of frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) remain incompletely understood.
• Limited data exists on the functional impact of persistent shoulder restriction in the late stages of frozen shoulder.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively investigate the long-term functional outcomes and range of motion in patients with frozen shoulder.
• To identify factors associated with less satisfactory outcomes in frozen shoulder patients.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study design involving 40 patients diagnosed with frozen shoulder.
• Follow-up duration ranged from 40 to 48 months (mean 44 months).
• Comparison of range of motion with age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Main Results:

• Significant reduction in shoulder range of motion compared to controls was observed.
• Objective restriction was severe in 5 patients and mild in 11 patients.
• Patients were frequently unaware of their impaired shoulder range of motion.
• Dominant arm involvement, manual labor, and mobilization physiotherapy correlated with poorer outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Persistent objective range of motion deficits are common in the late stage of frozen shoulder.
• Despite objective deficits, significant functional impairment is minimal in the late stage.
• Factors such as dominant arm use and manual labor may influence recovery trajectory.