Adhesive Capsulitis
Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a painful condition in which the movement of the shoulder becomes limited. Frozen shoulder occurs when the strong connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint (called the shoulder joint capsule) become thick, stiff, and inflamed.
Shoulder Impingement
Impingement syndrome is caused by inflammation from repetitive shoulder activities. Injury and aging are other causes. Pain may be consistent and increase with lifting or reaching movements. Rest and medications can help.
Shoulder Stiffness/Limited Range of Motion
Sometimes, people are being treated for other shoulder conditions when their physical therapist notices the signs and symptoms of adhesive capsulitis. Your physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation, including an extensive health history, to rule out other diagnoses. Your physical therapist will look for a specific pattern in your decreased range of motion called a “capsular pattern” that is typical with adhesive capsulitis. In addition, your physical therapist will consider other conditions you might have, such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, and autoimmune disorders, that are associated with adhesive capsulitis.
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
Golfers Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)
The elbow may feel stiff. Hands and wrists may feel weak.
Pinched Nerves
Your aching back, stiff neck or arm and leg pain might be courtesy of a pinched nerve. Nerves in your spine and other parts of your body can be compressed by surrounding tissue, causing pain, numbness and tingling.
Limited Joint Range of Motion
Limited range of motion is a term meaning that a joint or body part cannot move through its normal range of motion. Motion may be limited because of a problem within the joint, swelling of tissue around the joint, stiffness of the ligaments and muscles, or pain
Capsule Tightness
Capsular tightness not only limits motion but causes obligate translation. When rotational torque is applied to the humerus in a direction that tightens one aspect of the capsule the head of the humerus may be forced in the opposite direction.
Post-surgical Stiffness
Management of postoperative shoulder stiffness depends on the cause of the stiffness. Nonoperative and operative management modalities are available, but postoperative shoulder stiffness is often resistant to nonsurgical management. When conservative treatment fails, surgical release of the scar tissue and adhesions can be performed both by arthroscopic or open surgery. Arthroscopic capsular release is the preferred technique for capsule contraction and adhesion formation, as it allows precise and selective debridement of the scar tissue and division of the shortened and thickened capsule by partial or extensive capsulectomy.