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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
The bones, ligaments and tendons that make up your shoulder joint are encased in a capsule of connective tissue. Frozen shoulder occurs when this capsule thickens and tightens around the shoulder joint, restricting its movement.
Doctors aren't sure why this happens to some people and not to others, although it's more likely to occur in people who have recently experienced prolonged immobilization of their shoulder, such as after surgery or an arm fracture. Because of the high incidence of frozen shoulder in people with diabetes, there may be an autoimmune basis to the disease.
- Canale ST, et al. Adhesive capsulitis. In: Canale ST, et al. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/118357423-5/797903506/1584/341.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-03329-9..50047-7--cesec41_2408. Accessed Jan. 29, 2009.
- Anderson BC. Frozen shoulder. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 29, 2009.
- Krabik BJ, et al. Adhesive capsulitis. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/118477770-4/798285468/1678/13.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50012-2_144. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Noble J, et al. Periarticular rheumatic disorders: Shoulder area. In: Noble J, et al. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2001. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/118477770-6/798316122/959/864.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-00828-3..50139-4--cesec16_4159. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Neurological tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- An introduction to acupuncture. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction.htm. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
- Miller RD. Management of chronic pain: Rehabilitation. In: Miller RD. Miller's Anesthesia. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/119273143-5/0/1255/1.html?tocnode=53060557&fromURL=1.html#4-u1.0-B0-443-06618-3..X5001-4--TOP_1. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
- Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 6, 2009.
