Frozen shoulder has been described as a painful condition associated with stiffness and difficulty in sleeping on the affected side. People with this condition have difficulty in dressing, overhead movements and sleep disturbance. It occurs in 2 - 5% of general adult population, 10 - 15% of the people with diabetes. It mainly affects the individuals of 35 - 65 years of age with female predominance. Frozen shoulder is characterized by fibroproliferative tissue fibrosis whereby fibroblasts, producing predominantly type I and type III collagen, transform into myofibroblasts, which is accompanied by inflammation, resulting in shoulder capsular fibrotic contractures and the associated clinical stiffness.
There are two frozen shoulder syndromes, namely primary syndrome and secondary syndrome. In primary or idiopathic syndrome, frozen shoulder that occurs spontaneously or directly without knowing the causative factors. Primary syndrome occurs due to a chronic inflammatory response with fibroblast proliferation which can actually be a response from an abnormal immune system. Secondary syndromes occur due to several triggers such as trauma that can cause shoulder injuries or surgery associated with the onset of other conditions such as diabetes mellitus, autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular disorders.
The clinical presentation of frozen shoulder typically progresses through three stages: the freezing stage, where the shoulder becomes painful and progressively stiff over two to nine months; the frozen stage, characterized by significant stiffness and reduced pain over four to twelve months; and the thawing stage, where gradual improvement in shoulder mobility occurs over five to twenty-four months. The condition can be severely debilitating, impacting daily activities and overall quality of life.
Adhesive capsulitis treatment primarily consists of pain relief and physical therapy techniques. Anti-inflammatory medication is helpful in pain relief, so that mobility interventions can be initiated. Therapeutic modalities include Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), Interferential Therapy (IFT), Ultrasound, Short Wave Diathermy (SWD) etc, and the physical therapy exercises such as stretching, Codman exercise can be used. Exercises which may be active, passive or active assisted, play a crucial role in the early rehabilitation of these patients.