Frozen Shoulder

[Dr Damien]

Dear Gerry the neck

I have heard of this new insight to frozen shoulder syndromes too however if there is a direct relationship between the neck and frozen shoulder symprtoms perhaps treating the neck shhould automatically relieve the frozen shoulder symptoms. Have you ever had this dramatic result in your practice? In my experience, most patients that present with frozen shoulder that i have seen have not often showed neck symptoms that would make me personally want to investigate the neck. yes there is some restriction in neck range of motion that at best are mildly non capsular but they rarely complain of neck issues. secondly, the range of motion that would effectively cause some movement at the neck would be well over 90 degrees only because by that time the scapular would have moved a great distance to tug on the cervico scapula muscles. this does not explain why in severe frozen shoulder the shoulder limitation can be as low as below 30 degrees. In addition, the end feel one gets with frozen shoulder is usually a very firm and/or hard endfeel...this is not often the case in the neck as a rule of thumb. i would expect that is the neck theory stands, then there should be a precise capsular limitation of the neck as well. finally, why is it then that treatingn the shoulder directly sometimes improves the condition and why is it that the condition is self limiting? Does the neck suddenly realise its actually safe to be moved in a certain range after a while on its own?
I agree that this new insight is worth researching further however we shouldnt jump into conclusions on it being the real reason for frozen shoulder syndromes. I can understand how thiscould be a possiblity in a stroke patient.

[gerry the neck]

Hi Dr Damien
Just a quick reply for now. I have to say that your descriptions/ analysis etc seem to me to be pretty faultless. I don't often encounter this. Will study what you comment on and reply anon.

Gerry