Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)

Overview

4.7 out of 5 (161 Reviews)

Credits

1.00

Post-Assessment Questions

9

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

28 Mar 2025

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

60 Minutes


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Activity Description

Adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, is a painful and debilitating condition characterized by progressive stiffness and loss of both active and passive shoulder motion. This condition typically occurs in middle-aged individuals, with a higher prevalence in women. Adhesive capsulitis develops in 3 stages: the painful, freezing, and the thawing phase, which can last for months to years. While the exact pathophysiology remains unclear, inflammation, fibrosis, and contracture of the shoulder joint capsule play a key role. Risk factors include diabetes, thyroid disorders, prolonged immobilization, and previous shoulder injuries. Diagnosis is primarily clinical, with imaging used to rule out other causes of shoulder dysfunction. Management focuses on pain control, physical therapy, and in refractory cases, corticosteroid injections or surgical interventions such as capsular release.

This course enhances clinicians’ understanding of adhesive capsulitis by covering its clinical presentation, risk factors, diagnostic approach, and evidence-based treatment strategies. Participants gain skills to recognize early signs, differentiate adhesive capsulitis from other shoulder pathologies, and implement appropriate therapeutic interventions. The course also emphasizes the importance of an interprofessional approach, involving primary care clinicians, physical therapists, orthopedic specialists, and pain management teams. Effective collaboration ensures timely diagnosis, personalized rehabilitation plans, and improved patient adherence to treatment. By fostering coordinated care, healthcare professionals can reduce disability, enhance functional recovery, and optimize long-term outcomes for individuals affected by adhesive capsulitis.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Identify the characteristic features and risk factors associated with adhesive capsulitis.

  • Implement evidence-based treatment strategies, including physical therapy and pain management techniques.

  • Differentiate adhesive capsulitis from other shoulder or cervical spine pathologies that may have similar presentations.

  • Collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists, to develop comprehensive care plans for patients with adhesive capsulitis.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Physicians and Physician Associates: StatPearls, LLC designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians and PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American Board of Anesthesiology: This activity contributes to the CME component of the American Board of Anesthesiology’s redesigned Maintenance of Certification in AnesthesiologyTM (MOCA®) program, known as MOCA 2.0®. Please consult the ABA website, www.theABA.org, for a list of all MOCA 2.0 requirements.

American Board of Internal Medicine: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment Examination requirements of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery’s (ABOS) Maintenance of Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABOS credit.

American Board of Pathology: Successful completion of this Continuing Certification activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 Lifelong Learning (CME) credits in the American Board of Pathology’s Continuing Certification Program.

American Board of Pediatrics: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.

American Board of Surgery: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment requirement(s) of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada: Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

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  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
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Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the FDA. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

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Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

Reviews

Bonnie R. on 6/14/2021

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Jean-Parnell L. on 1/17/2025

Thank you for covering frozen shoulder. It often goes misdiagnosed.

Kathryn G. on 1/23/2025

Anthony L. on 2/3/2025

Gaston D. on 4/4/2025

Abdi C. on 4/12/2025

Unlimited Physician CME

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6710 CME activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 7976 hours of CME.

Learn About Lifetime CME

6 Month Unlimited Physician CME

Access to all the Unlimited Physician CME activities in all specialties.

$199 per half year per user

1 Year Unlimited Physician CME

Access to all the Unlimited Physician CME activities in all specialties.

$299 per 1 year per user