How to Treat Musicians with Frozen Shoulder: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Musicians comprise a specific occupational group with high musculoskeletal loads as well as demands. A frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by pain and loss of function of the glenohumeral joint. Despite being described as a generally self-limiting condition, the clinical course of the disease is unclear. A frozen shoulder can be a career-threatening diagnosis for musicians who need a wide range of motion of the shoulder to play their instruments. The aim of this narrative review is to provide healthcare providers and musicians with an overview of treatment principles for instrumental musicians with frozen shoulder. In this review, both general treatment principles as well as instrument-specific ergonomic tools are discussed. The aim is to provide an overview of the available tools to preserve a musician's playing capabilities and to enable early return to playing the instrument.