Frozen shoulder is also referred to as adhesive capsulitis. It is a condition of the shoulder that causes pain and a gradual loss in shoulder movement.
Many things can bring about a frozen shoulder. Most commonly an injury to the wrist, elbow, or shoulder causes you to stop moving your shoulder regularly. This, in turn, causes pain in your shoulder causing you to move your shoulder even less. The joint may swell up and cause the joint surfaces to stick to themselves and scar. The scar tissue makes it even more difficult for you to move your shoulder. Therefore, your muscles get weaker and your shoulder feels essentially "frozen".
The following picture illustrates a normal shoulder joint and a stiff shoulder
joint from frozen shoulder.
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Orthopaedic Conditions