Summary

• Chronic fibrosing condition characterised by insidious, progressive, and severe restriction of both active and passive shoulder range of motion.
• Affects 2% to 5% of the population, slightly more common in women than in men, and most common in people between 40 and 70 years of age.
• Recent history of traumatic shoulder injury, prior surgery to affected shoulder, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, and previous history of adhesive capsulitis are all risk factors for developing adhesive capsulitis.
• Generally self-limiting and usually resolves within 18 to 24 months.
• Mainstay of treatment is physiotherapy and observation. Some evidence shows that oral and injected corticosteroids may also be beneficial.
• Refractory cases may require a surgical capsular release. This can be performed reliably and satisfactorily with arthroscopic techniques.