Diagnosis and Treatment of Adhesive Capsulitis

Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is a common primary care and orthopedic diagnosis and is often referred to as “frozen shoulder.” It is characterized as a painful inflammatory process of the shoulder that leads to a mechanical block in active and passive range of motion. Risk factors for AC most notably include diabetes and thyroid dysfunction. Diagnosis is made based on physical exam, but can be augmented by diagnostic imaging. Nonsurgical management is the mainstay of treatment, as the disease is self-limiting. Surgical intervention is necessary in some cases