These clinical practice guidelines, published in 2013 by the American Physical Therapy Association, provide a comprehensive framework for managing adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as frozen shoulder.
The text details pathoanatomical features, noting that the condition involves significant inflammation and fibrosis of the shoulder capsule, particularly affecting middle-aged women and individuals with diabetes or thyroid disease.
It outlines a staged clinical course and offers evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis through physical examination of passive and active motion deficits.
The sources advocate for specific interventions, ranking corticosteroid injections and stretching exercises as highly effective for short-term recovery.
Additionally, the guidelines emphasize the importance of patient education and the use of validated outcome measures to monitor functional progress.
Structured for medical professionals, the document serves as a reference for standardizing care and improving patient outcomes through tailored rehabilitation strategies.
(Kelley MJ, Shaffer MA, Kuhn JE, Michener LA, Seitz AL, Uhl TL, et al. Shoulder pain and mobility deficits: adhesive capsulitis: Clinical practice guidelines linked to the international classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health from the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther [Internet]. 2013;43(5):A1-31. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2013.0302)