Range of Motion in the Recovery Process of the Frozen Shoulder

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to find out the alteration of the range of motion in the recovery process of frozen shoulders. Forty-five cases (26 males and 29 females), aged from 36 to 75 years old (54 in average), including 9 diabetic and 6 thyroid ailments (hyperthryodism), were followed-up in the outpatient clinic until patients became comfortable with their shoulders. The mean follow up period was 7 months in average (4 -19months). The range of elevation (EL), external rotation (ER), and extension (EX) were measured. Statistical analysis was made by unpaired -t test. The long follow up was made by questionnaire in 21 cases after 8 years on average on the final visits to our clinics. The initial average of the EL ER and EX of the patients without complications were 90 ± 13 (167 ± 17: healthy side),7 ± 16 (56 ± 27),29 ± 8 (72 ± 16) degrees, respectively. Those of the patients with diabetes and thyroid ailments were 102 ± 10,13 12,30 ± 6 and 96 ± 15,17 ± 18,41 ± 10, respectively. On their final visits, they moved to 132 ± 25,26 ± 20,50 ± 17 in the patients without complications,118 ± 18,19 ± 19,39 ± 14 in diabetic patients and 158 ± 32,32 ± 23,46 ± 10 in patients with thyroid ailments. The ranges of final visits were statistically lower than those of the healthy side. There were no recurrences of frozen shoulders after the final visits to the clinics though half of the diabetic cases felt mild symptoms in their shoulders. A complete recovery of range of motion of a frozen shoulder was not found even if the patients felt comfortable with their shoulders.