Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder, is best described as?

Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder, is best described as?

• A. An inflammatory condition leading to capsular stiffness and adhesions.
• B. A degenerative tear of the rotator cuff.
• C. A nerve entrapment syndrome of the brachial plexus.
• D. A knee joint infection.

Answer: (A)

Adhesive capsulitis is best understood as an inflammatory process affecting the shoulder joint capsule that causes the capsule to thicken and contract, forming adhesions. This leads to progressive loss of range of motion, often most evident as limitation in external rotation and abduction, and a painful to stiff progression over time. Describing it as an inflammatory condition with capsular stiffness and adhesions captures both the underlying process and the mechanical consequence. It isn’t a degenerative rotator cuff tear, which would involve tendon degeneration and weakness rather than a uniform tightening of the joint capsule. It isn’t a nerve entrapment of the brachial plexus, which would present with neuropathic symptoms like tingling or weakness in a nerve distribution. And it isn’t a knee joint infection, which involves a different joint and clinical picture entirely.

Adhesive capsulitis is best understood as an inflammatory process affecting the shoulder joint capsule that causes the capsule to thicken and contract, forming adhesions. This leads to progressive loss of range of motion, often most evident as limitation in external rotation and abduction, and a painful to stiff progression over time. Describing it as an inflammatory condition with capsular stiffness and adhesions captures both the underlying process and the mechanical consequence.

It isn’t a degenerative rotator cuff tear, which would involve tendon degeneration and weakness rather than a uniform tightening of the joint capsule. It isn’t a nerve entrapment of the brachial plexus, which would present with neuropathic symptoms like tingling or weakness in a nerve distribution. And it isn’t a knee joint infection, which involves a different joint and clinical picture entirely.