What is Frozen Shoulder Syndrome?

Frozen shoulder syndrome is the common name for the medical condition called Adhesive Capsulitis. This condition causes the patient to be unable to move the shoulder. Temporary paralysis is generally a result of stiffness due to the patient’s unwillingness to move the arm because of pain in the shoulder region.

The less the patient moves the arm, the more stiff the shoulder joint becomes. While frozen shoulder syndrome usually occurs in only one shoulder or the other, approximately one in five patients report that they have incidence in both shoulders…

Frozen shoulder is usually classified in two ways, primary or secondary. In primary frozen shoulder syndrome, the pain and stiffness present with no apparent cause or reason for the symptoms. In secondary frozen shoulder syndrome, the pain and stiffness are the direct result of some injury or trauma. It may even be the result of some type of cardiac surgery.

Frozen shoulder syndrome remains somewhat of a mystery to physicians. The primary theory is that the joint, or capsule, becomes irritated and enflamed. This inflammation results in the formation of scar tissue. The scar tissue then cramps the shoulder joint, making arm movement very difficult.

Diabetics are thought to have a high incidence of frozen shoulder syndrome because the glucose molecules attach themselves to collagen fibers. When this happens in the shoulder, stiffness will result. Diabetics who are insulin dependent will have a much higher odd of experiencing frozen shoulder syndrome.

Poor posture may also be an indicator of future problems with frozen shoulder syndrome. This is because those who have rounded shoulders may find that the ligaments in the shoulder will gradually shorten. This shortening may add to the problems of mobility problems in the shoulder.

Finally, injuries which require the arm to be immobile for any length of time may result in the kind of stiffness that is symptomatic of frozen shoulder syndrome.

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