Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, involves stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. 

It occurs when there is inflammation in the tissue that surrounds the shoulder joint. 

People with diabetes, thyroid disease, and cardiac conditions are especially likely to develop frozen shoulder, and women develop it more often than men. 

Frozen shoulder is most common in people over 40.

Physical therapy and exercises are primary treatments for frozen shoulder.

Certain supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric and ginger, may help reduce inflammation and potentially alleviate frozen shoulder symptoms. 

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that plays a role in collagen synthesis, which is important for maintaining healthy connective tissues in the shoulder joint.

A recent study has found that certain gut bacteria, such as Bifidobacteriales and Lactobacillus, may act as protective factors against frozen shoulder.

References:

Chen, J., Jiang, X., Shen, Y., & Fu, X. (2023). The association between gut microbiota and frozen shoulder: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

De la Serna, D., Navarro-Ledesma, S., Alayón, F., López, E., & Pruimboom, L. (2021). A comprehensive view of frozen shoulder: a mystery syndrome. Frontiers in Medicine, 8, 663703.

Feusi, O., Fleischmann, T., Waschkies, C., Pape, H. C., Werner, C. M., & Tiziani, S. (2023). Vitamin C as a Potential Prophylactic Measure Against Frozen Shoulder in an In Vivo Shoulder Contracture Animal Model. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 51(8), 2041-2049.

Navarro-Ledesma, S., Hamed-Hamed, D., & Pruimboom, L. (2024). A new perspective of frozen shoulder pathology; the interplay between the brain and the immune system. Frontiers in Physiology, 15, 1248612.