Diagnostic information including
gender, the elapsed time from onset of pain, and degree of range of motion
limitation should be considered during the anamnesis of patients with shoulder
pain.
Shoulder pain caused by AC is
prominent in females, in patients with a more severe range of motion limitation
and the first 3 months of symptoms starting, suggested by the results of a
study published in 'Musculoskeletal surgery'.
Assessment concerning adhesive
capsulitis (AC) of the shoulder concentrating on aetiology, epidemiology,
detection, and treatment; until now, details on shoulder pain characteristics
is still scarce. The research aimed to analyse pain intensity and distribution
in patients with AC. The assign section was composed of 278 (133M–145F)
consecutive patients with AC. After diagnosis, shoulder pain distribution was
assessed through an upper limb pain map and pain intensity through a visual analogue
scale. Patients were distinguished by gender, age, the time elapsed from the
onset of symptoms, and severity of functional limitation. Data were submitted
to statistical analysis.
The intensity of shoulder pain caused by AC was higher in females (p < 0.05); it did not vary on the side and between patients younger and older than 55 years. Patients whose pain arose from more than three months suffered a lower potency of shoulder pain. Moreover, pain intensity was higher in the most severe form of AC (active forward flexion < 60°) (p < 0.05). The pain was localised predominantly on the anterior aspect of the shoulder (dermatomes C5–C6) and rarely continue beyond the distal third of the arm. No differences were evaluated in pain distribution between male and female, between patients with pain from less or more than three months and between different levels of AC severity (p > 0.05).
The study findings indicated that
shoulder pain caused by AC is highly dependent on the gender and severity of
functional limitation. It was also added that AC pain distribution includes an
anterior aspect of the shoulder with the downward extension of the arm until
its distal third.
Musculoskeletal surgery
Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: pain intensity and distribution
V. Candela et al.
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