Frozen Shoulder Clinical Examination: Everything a PT Needs to Know
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Frozen Shoulder Evidence Based Cheat Sheet
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Struggling to diagnose frozen shoulder? This video will guide you through a comprehensive clinical examination to confidently identify frozen shoulder and differentiate it from other conditions. In this video, you'll learn:
- The importance of accurate diagnosis for frozen shoulder treatment
- The 3 stages of frozen shoulder and their characteristics
- How to perform a thorough clinical examination, including:
- Range of motion assessment
- Joint play techniques
- Special tests to rule out other pathologies
- Key factors to consider during the subjective evaluation (e.g., age, diabetes)
Timeline:
- 0:00 - Intro
- 0:09 - Why Accurate Diagnosis is Vital
- 0:41 - Natural History
- 1:09 - Risk Factors
- 1:35 - Stage 1 - Freezing
- 1:56 - Stage 2 - Frozen
- 2:11 - Stage 3 - Thawing
- 2:20 - Timelines
- 5:38 - Subjective Examination
- 7:52 - Objective Examination
- 10:25 - Measuring External Rotation
- 12:05 - Measuring Elevation and Internal Rotation
- 13:44 - Capsular Testing
- 15:22 - Special Tests and Manual Muscle Testing
- 16:23 - Summary
Anyone available to melt my shoulder?
- Dan Pope DPT,OCS,CSCS
Show Notes / Relevant Articles:
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Thank you!
Dan Pope DPT, OCS, CSCS
References:
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- Pandey V, Madi S. Clinical Guidelines in the Management of Frozen Shoulder: An Update! Indian J Orthop. 2021 Feb 1;55(2):299-309. doi: 10.1007/s43465-021-00351-3. PMID: 33912325; PMCID: PMC8046676.
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- Rangan A, Brealey SD, Keding A, Corbacho B, Northgraves M, Kottam L, Goodchild L, Srikesavan C, Rex S, Charalambous CP, Hanchard N, Armstrong A, Brooksbank A, Carr A, Cooper C, Dias JJ, Donnelly I, Hewitt C, Lamb SE, McDaid C, Richardson G, Rodgers S, Sharp E, Spencer S, Torgerson D, Toye F; UK FROST Study Group. Management of adults with primary frozen shoulder in secondary care (UK FROST): a multicentre, pragmatic, three-arm, superiority randomised clinical trial. Lancet. 2020 Oct 3;396(10256):977-989. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31965-6. Erratum in: Lancet. 2021 Jan 9;397(10269):98. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32719-7. PMID: 33010843.
- Rawat P, Eapen C, Seema KP. Effect of rotator cuff strengthening as an adjunct to standard care in subjects with adhesive capsulitis: A randomized controlled trial. J Hand Ther. 2017 Jul-Sep;30(3):235-241.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2016.10.007. Epub 2016 Nov 21. PMID: 27884497.
- Carette S, Moffet H, Tardif J, Bessette L, Morin F, Frémont P, Bykerk V, Thorne C, Bell M, Bensen W, Blanchette C. Intraarticular corticosteroids, supervised physiotherapy, or a combination of the two in the treatment of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: a placebo-controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2003 Mar;48(3):829-38. doi: 10.1002/art.10954. PMID: 12632439.
- Rangan A, Brealey SD, Keding A, Corbacho B, Northgraves M, Kottam L, Goodchild L, Srikesavan C, Rex S, Charalambous CP, Hanchard N, Armstrong A, Brooksbank A, Carr A, Cooper C, Dias JJ, Donnelly I, Hewitt C, Lamb SE, McDaid C, Richardson G, Rodgers S, Sharp E, Spencer S, Torgerson D, Toye F; UK FROST Study Group. Management of adults with primary frozen shoulder in secondary care (UK FROST): a multicentre, pragmatic, three-arm, superiority randomised clinical trial. Lancet. 2020 Oct 3;396(10256):977-989. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31965-6. Erratum in: Lancet. 2021 Jan 9;397(10269):98. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32719-7. PMID: 33010843.
- Poku D, Hassan R, Migliorini F, Maffulli N. Efficacy of hydrodilatation in frozen shoulder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br Med Bull. 2023 Sep 12;147(1):121-147. doi: 10.1093/bmb/ldad018. PMID: 37496207; PMCID: PMC10788845.
- Mardani-Kivi M, Nabi BN, Mousavi MH, Shirangi A, Leili EK, Ghadim-Limudahi ZH. Role of suprascapular nerve block in idiopathic frozen shoulder treatment: a clinical trial survey. Clin Shoulder Elb. 2022 Jun;25(2):129-139. doi: 10.5397/cise.2021.00661. Epub 2022 May 16. PMID: 35698782; PMCID: PMC9185110.