Adhesive Capsulitis Symptoms

Any injury to the shoulder, such as bursitis or rotator cuff damage, can cause adhesive capsulitis. Commonly called frozen shoulder, this condition is characterized by the shoulder losing significant range of motion in all directions. It results from inflammation, scarring, shrinking and thickening of the capsule that surrounds the normal shoulder joint.

Initial Symptoms

• Initial symptoms of adhesive capsulitis include dull or aching shoulder pain that increases during movement and is worse at night. The pain usually is located in the outer shoulder and sometimes in the upper arm. This phase may last several months.

Loss of Motion

• The person begins losing range of motion in the shoulder, and eventually the range of motion may be limited to half of what the other shoulder can do.

Definitive Symptom

• Adhesive capsulitis is distinguished from other range-of-motion shoulder problems because it affects movement in all directions. Additionally, in other disorders, the physician typically can move the patient's shoulder beyond the range that the patient himself can, but this is not true of adhesive capsulitis.

Resolution

• Usually therapy is necessary to restore proper motion. Resolution of the condition is gradual, taking up to 2 years.

Risk Factors

• Adhesive capsulitis is more common in people with chronic inflammatory shoulder arthritis or diabetes or who have recently had chest or breast surgery.