Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: pain intensity and distribution
- PMID: 28756507
- DOI: 10.1007/s12306-017-0488-6
Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: pain intensity and distribution
Abstract
Purpose: Papers regarding adhesive capsulitis (AC) of the shoulder focused on etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment; until now, information on shoulder pain characteristics is still scarce. Our aim was to analyze pain intensity and distribution in patients with AC.
Methods: The study group was composed of 278 (133M-145F) consecutive patients with AC. After diagnosis, shoulder pain distribution was assessed through an upper limb pain map and pain intensity through a visual analog scale. Patients were distinguished on the basis of gender, age, time elapsed from onset of symptoms, and severity of functional limitation. Data were submitted to statistical analysis.
Results: Intensity of shoulder pain caused by AC was higher in females (p < 0.05); it did not vary with the side and between patient younger and older than 55 years. Patients whose pain arose from more than 3 months suffered a lower intensity of shoulder pain. Furthermore, pain intensity was higher in the most severe form of AC (active forward flexion < 60°) (p < 0.05). Pain was localized predominantly on the anterior aspect of the shoulder (dermatomes C5-C6) and rarely extended beyond the distal third of the arm. No differences were found in pain distribution between male and female, between patients with pain from less or more than 3 months and between different levels of AC severity (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Shoulder pain due to AC may be influenced by gender and severity of functional limitation. AC pain distribution principally involves anterior aspect of the shoulder with downward extension of the arm until its distal third.
Levels of evidence: Level IV.
Keywords: Adhesive capsulitis; Frozen shoulder; Pain intensity; Shoulder pain; Shoulder pain distribution; Shoulder clinical evaluation.
Similar articles
-
Intensity and distribution of shoulder pain in patients with different sized postero-superior rotator cuff tears.J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2014 Jun;23(6):807-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2013.09.011. Epub 2013 Dec 27. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2014. PMID: 24378179
-
CORR® ORS Richard A. Brand Award: Clinical Trials of a New Treatment Method for Adhesive Capsulitis.Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2016 Nov;474(11):2327-2336. doi: 10.1007/s11999-016-4862-8. Epub 2016 May 9. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2016. PMID: 27160746 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
The efficacy of mirror therapy in patients with adhesive capsulitis: A randomized, prospective, controlled study.J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2018;31(6):1177-1182. doi: 10.3233/BMR-171050. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2018. PMID: 30056414 Clinical Trial.
-
Upper extremity: emphasis on frozen shoulder.Orthop Clin North Am. 2006 Oct;37(4):531-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ocl.2006.09.009. Orthop Clin North Am. 2006. PMID: 17141009 Review.
-
Manipulation following regional interscalene anesthetic block for shoulder adhesive capsulitis: a case series.Man Ther. 2005 Feb;10(1):80-7. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2004.05.002. Man Ther. 2005. PMID: 15681274 Review. No abstract available.
Cited by
-
Decreased rotator cuff muscle cross-sectional areas in subjects with adhesive capsulitis: a study comparing male and female subjects.Skeletal Radiol. 2024 Apr;53(4):761-767. doi: 10.1007/s00256-023-04487-1. Epub 2023 Oct 25. Skeletal Radiol. 2024. PMID: 37875572
-
The effect of cellular nuclear function alteration on the pathogenesis of shoulder adhesive capsulitis: an immunohistochemical study on lamin A/C expression.J Orthop Traumatol. 2024 Feb 21;25(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s10195-024-00752-8. J Orthop Traumatol. 2024. PMID: 38381214 Free PMC article.
-
Intramuscular Electrical Stimulation Combined with Therapeutic Exercises in Patients with Shoulder Adhesive Capsulitis: A Randomised Controlled Trial.Int J Surg Protoc. 2021 May 18;25(1):71-83. doi: 10.29337/ijsp.25. Int J Surg Protoc. 2021. PMID: 34056148 Free PMC article.
-
Randomized controlled trial of suprascapular nerve blocks for subacute adhesive capsulitis.Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2022 Aug;58(4):630-637. doi: 10.23736/S1973-9087.22.07410-X. Epub 2022 May 16. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2022. PMID: 35575454 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Treatment of partial rotator cuff lesions is associated with a higher frequency of post-operative shoulder stiffness. A prospective investigation on the role of surgery-related risk factors for this complication.Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2022 Nov;142(11):3379-3387. doi: 10.1007/s00402-021-04285-1. Epub 2021 Dec 14. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2022. PMID: 34905067 Free PMC article.
References
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical
Research Materials
Miscellaneous