Adhesive capsulitis: A review for clinicians.

ABSTRACT Adhesive capsulitis, a common primary care and orthopedic diagnosis often referred to as frozen shoulder, is a painful inflammatory process that leads to a mechanical block in active and passive range of shoulder motion. Risk factors include diabetes and thyroid dysfunction. Diagnosis is made based on physical examination, but can be augmented by diagnostic imaging. Nonsurgical management is the mainstay of treatment, because the disease is self-limiting. However, some patients may need surgical intervention.