Frozen Shoulder: Understanding and Managing Adhesive Capsulitis

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterized by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. This condition, which typically begins gradually and worsens over time before resolving within one to three years, is thought to be an evolutionary mismatch. This is because, through millions of years of evolution, the shoulder joint has developed to be highly mobile, allowing for movements such as throwing rocks, hanging from branches, and carrying heavy hunting prey overhead on a daily basis. This mobility is supported by the shoulder joint's comfortable placement within the socket of the scapula, proper lubrication with synovial fluid, and active surrounding muscles. However, in modern times, the shoulder joint is often used in a static manner, with limited range of motion movements, which can lead to an inflammatory condition in the shoulder joint capsule, resulting in frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis.