What is a frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder, "painful stiff shoulder" or "adhesive capsulitis" is characterised as an initially painful but progressive joint condition that causes limited range of motion over time. This is an inflammatory condition that causes fibrosis or "scarring" of the glenohumeral joint capsule. This condition is complex, often occurs in females, and is multifactorial involving both environmental and genetic factors. A major risk factor is diabetes type II. It can take 2-3 years to resolve and some patients may not ever fully recover. Treatment involves a combination of physiotherapy treatment (manual therapy and home exercises involving stretching, strengthening and mobilty) and  medical management such as cortisone injections and hydrodilatations (distension arthrography).