title: Frozen shoulder: a long-term prospective study.
abstract: As the natural history of frozen shoulder is poorly documented, a prospective study of 40 patients followed up for 40-48 months (mean 44 months) is described. The range of movement was significantly less than age- and sex-matched controls. Objective restriction was severe in five patients and mild in a further 11. Patients were often unaware that shoulder range was impaired. Dominant arm involvement, manual labour, and mobilisation physiotherapy were associated with a less satisfactory outcome. We conclude that, while objective restriction persists, there is little functional impairment in the late stage of frozen shoulder.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D009790:Occupations; D010146:Pain; D010489:Periarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology