| Frozen Shoulder or Adhesive Capsulitis of Shoulder as | | | | bony overgrowth limiting the free excursion of the |
| is technically called, is an inflammatory disorder of the | | | | tendons around the shoulder joint. Septic Arthritis has a |
| shoulder joint capsule. It produces global restriction of | | | | fulminant course associated with systemic signs - like |
| shoulder movements. Most patients in their 30's to 50's | | | | fever, swelling and redness of shoulder joint. |
| age often present as progressive pain and stiffness of | | | | Frozen shoulder is a self limiting disorder; unless |
| the shoulder joint, which starts as a painful shoulder | | | | associated with another pathology. It has three distinct |
| and later produces stiffness. Usually the symptoms | | | | phases, characterized by pain, stiffness and then |
| range from weeks to months. Usually, patients do not | | | | resolution of symptoms. The typical duration of phases |
| remember any precipitating event before the start of | | | | is 3-6 months. Because Frozen shoulder or Adhesive |
| symptoms. | | | | capsulitis is a self limiting disease, the treatment is |
| Diabetics are the worst hit. Although, it may occur in | | | | directed at supportive care. |
| any individual, patients with Uncontrolled Diabetes | | | | Most patients respond well to a short course of |
| Mellitus tend to suffer more often. The important point | | | | anti-inflammatory medication in the painful phase. This |
| of differentiation is between Frozen shoulder and other | | | | is the phase which is most troublesome. In the stiffness |
| more serious pathologies involving the shoulder joint. | | | | phase, aggressive physiotherapy may be started to |
| The common differentials include- Rotator Cuff Tear, | | | | improve shoulder range of movements. In some |
| Impingement syndrome and Septic Arthritis. | | | | patients who do not respond to physiotherapy, |
| Rotator cuff tear usually happens in the young active | | | | manipulation of shoulder under anesthesia may be |
| individual; although degenerative tears in elderly are | | | | preformed. This is done after injecting the shoulder |
| also described. It produces weakness of movements | | | | with local anesthetic solution and physiological saline. |
| in the plane of action of the affected muscle group. | | | | Shoulder arthroscopy is another options for patients |
| Impingement syndrome produces pain on sideways | | | | suffering with recurrent adhesions and shoulder |
| elevation of the upper limb; it may happen due to | | | | stiffness. |
| inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons or abnormal | | | | |