What is a Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder, adhesive capsulitis in medical jargon, is a condition that arises in association with prolonged immobility of the arm. Its incidence peaks after age 50, and women are more commonly affected than men. Frozen shoulder occurs in a variety of conditions, but stroke is clearly a predisposing factor when it causes a loss of strength that inhibits regular arm motion. The pathological mechanism by which frozen shoulder develops is unclear, though it appears to be an inflammatory process. Diagnostic tests are usually negative, but x-rays, arthrograms, MRI and bone scans may be useful in ruling out problems resembling this disorder. Frozen shoulder generally has three phases: 1) pain and increasing stiffness; 2) decreased pain, but marked stiffness and limitation of shoulder movement—hence, the term “frozen”; 3) gradual recovery or “thawing” with improvement of motion and reduction of pain. Each phase lasts from several to many months. Recovery in less than six months is rare,
