Frozen Shoulder: Diagnosis and Treatment of Adhesive Capsulitis

Adhesive capsulitis, commonly referred to as frozen shoulder, is a frequent cause of shoulder pain and stiffness in middle-aged adults and is associated with substantial functional limitation. Although traditionally considered a self-limited condition, growing evidence suggests that many patients experience prolonged symptoms and incomplete recovery. Diagnosis is primarily clinical, based on characteristic history and examination findings demonstrating global restriction of passive glenohumeral motion, with imaging reserved for exclusion of alternative pathology. Management is predominantly nonoperative and should be individualized according to disease stage, symptom severity, and patient comorbidities. Corticosteroid injection and physical therapy provide meaningful benefit in appropriately selected patients, while surgical intervention is reserved for refractory cases. This review summarizes the current understanding of the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, and evidence-based management of adhesive capsulitis, emphasizing practical considerations to guide patient-centered care.