Patients with advanced adhesive capsulitis may have lost the natural arm swing that occurs with walking. Muscle atrophy of the shoulder girdle may be present. As a result of impaired motion in the glenohumeral joint, abnormal scapular movement may be observed with active forward flexion of the affected shoulder. The physical examination of a patient with adhesive capsulitis can be uncomfortable, and the patient may need to briefly rest or gently “shake out” the shoulder between maneuvers.
Palpation may yield vague, diffuse tenderness over the anterior and posterior shoulder. Focal tenderness over a specific structure is rare; its presence suggests another diagnosis or concomitant pathology, such as rotator cuff or biceps tendinopathy.
Loss of motion with forward flexion, abduction, and external and internal rotation should raise suspicion for adhesive capsulitis. It is important to compare these maneuvers on the affected and unaffected sides to accurately assess deficits. The patient should initially be asked to actively test the limits of motion (Figure 1); if loss of motion is observed, the physician may assist passively, with scapular stabilization to ensure an accurate measurement of movement (Figure 2). The most widely accepted method for measuring internal rotation is the Apley scratch test, usually expressed in terms of the highest vertebral level reached (Figure 3). Full range of motion in any plane suggests another diagnosis.