Frozen shoulder is a painful condition of the shoulder in which stiffness and loss of range of motion of the shoulder progressively develops in more than one direction. The medical term for frozen shoulder is synovial bursitis, and it describes the inflammatory condition that affects the entire rotator cuff and the underlying joint capsule, leading to tissue shrinkage and adhesion of the capsule to adjacent tissues, such as the humeral head .
Epidemiologically, it seems to occur more often in women aged 40-60 years, while the etiology of the condition remains unknown. Diabetes mellitus, but also other conditions such as thyroid diseases, heart diseases, and Parkinson’s disease have been blamed as predisposing factors. It also seems that it can appear after some injury and immobilization of the shoulder joint.
The clinical picture depends on the phase in which the condition is located. Frozen shoulder occurs in three phases. In the first phase, which lasts about 3 months, initially a progressively worsening pain occurs, while at the same time a decrease in the range of motion of the shoulder is observed. In the second phase, which occurs after the end of the first 3 months and lasts until the 9th month, there is severe stiffness with limitation in more movements and with pain occurring only in the final degrees of movement. In the final phase, which lasts 9-18 months, there is usually no pain, while joint mobility gradually returns.
The diagnosis can be made very easily through the clinical examination, but an imaging test may also be needed to rule out other pathologies.
The treatment of frozen shoulder is mainly conservative, with the patient following a program of physical therapy sessions aimed at analgesia and the gradual restoration of functionality and movement of the shoulder joint.
