Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder joint (?frozen shoulder?) in patients with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Adhesive capsulitis (АС) has an incidence of 20% in diabetic patients. The tightening of the shoulder capsule ("freezing") can cause gradually increasing limitation in active and passive range of motion (ROM) of shoulder. Consequences of the increasing limitations are reduced quality of life and patient disability. It is thought that AC is a self-limiting disorder that resolves in 1?2.5 years in most cases. However, new clinical data indicate both long-term persistent pain and residual loss of motion in 10% of patients without diabetes and in 85% of patients with diabetes. In this review, we summarize the results from different clinical trials in which risk factors and pathogenesis of AC in diabetic patients as well as the diagnosis and efficacy of various methods for the treatment of AC were examined.