Pilates Scene

A snippet from a recent post from Mike, a Physiotherapist who blogs too.

“After polling and statistical analysis, the authors report 8 factors that the group agreed upon as being strong clinical indicators of early stage adhesive capsulitis:

There is a strong component of night pain
There is a marked increase in pain with rapid or unguarded movements
It is uncomfortable to lie on the affected shoulder
The patient reports the pain is easily aggravated by movement
The onset is generally in people greater than 35 years old
On examination, there is global loss of active and passive range of motion
On examination, there is pain at the end range of motion
There is a global loss of passive glenohumeral joint movement

These factors were all selected and narrowed down from an original list of 60 items that is included in the manuscript. I thought it was interesting that many of the clinical identifiers that I use did not make the final consensus.

For example, none of the below reached consensus:

The onset is generally in people less than 60 years old
The condition more commonly presents in females
There can be an association with diabetes

Perhaps these are stereotypes that I have used in my practice based on past anecdotal advice.

Clinical Implications

The results of this study in no way should be used as strict criteria in the diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis, but may provide some useful guidance during the subjective and objective portions of the clients examination.”