Adhesive Capsulitis

Colloquially referred to as frozen shoulder, this injury is characterized by restricted active and passive range-of-motion, a deep ache in the shoulder, and weakness. As the diagnosis indicates, initially there is an inflammatory phase of the shoulder joint capsule; the adhesions, also referred to as scar tissue, form as part of the inflammatory process but persist and contract over time even when inflammation subsides.  

There are other conditions that may feel and look like a frozen shoulder such as tears of the rotator cuff and labrum, impingement, bursitis, tendonitis, and even cervical disc herniations. Therefore, a thorough history and examination is critical to clarify the treatment plan: from our experience, most cases of what feel like adhesive capsulitis, are in truth one of the other injuries that mimic it and are much faster to recover from!  

For the cases of true adhesive capsulitis, new research is showing that laser therapy such as that delivered by the Summus Horizon laser positively influences pain and quality of life.