Dr. Jiwu Chen

Dr. Jiwu Chen
Injuries & conditions

Frozen shoulder

Adhesive capsulitis

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In plain language

Adhesive capsulitis causes shoulder pain and restricted active and passive motion.

01

Clinical Significance & Management

External rotation is often limited; recovery can be prolonged.

02

Symptoms & Clinical Presentation

1

Pain, night discomfort and difficulty dressing or reaching behind.

03

Etiology & Injury Mechanisms

  • Often unexplained; diabetes, thyroid disease and immobilization increase risk.
04

Diagnostics & Imaging Guide

Compare active and passive motion; X-rays may exclude arthritis.

05

Treatment Options

Option 1

Pain control and gentle mobility exercises; consider joint injection or further treatment if persistent.

06

Rehabilitation Milestones & Timeline

Rehabilitation depends on the diagnosis, procedure and associated injuries. Progression requires assessment of healing, symptoms and function; elapsed time or a single test cannot determine readiness for sport.

Rehabilitation progression

Avoid forceful stretching during painful phases; progressively restore motion, strength and daily function.

Red Flags & Urgent Warnings

Seek immediate emergency or specialist orthopaedic evaluation if any of the following occur:

Sudden loss of elevation after trauma, fever with a hot shoulder or progressive neurological symptoms needs assessment.

07

Evidence-Based Clarifications

Night pain alone cannot diagnose it, and rotator cuff disease may coexist.

Sources & References

Educational clinical definitions synthesized from AAOS, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and HSS. Individual diagnosis and surgery require professional medical evaluation.

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