Conservative Treatment for Frozen Shoulder Is Effective Regardless of the Severity of Symptoms.

Purpose: To analyze the recovery duration of pain and functional activity after conservative treatment, including oral medication, injections, and rehabilitation, for frozen shoulder among patients based on the severity of their symptoms. Methods: The study involved patients with new reports of shoulder night pain considered more severe than daytime pain and limited range of motion between January 2021 and December 2021 at the Tokyo Sports and Orthopaedic Clinic. Patients with recent shoulder treatment, a history of shoulder injury, rotator cuff tears, arthritic changes, or shoulder trauma were excluded. After dividing patients into 3 groups by severity of stiffness (group 1, severe; group 2, moderate; and group 3, mild), we recorded retrospective data on range of motion and details of conservative treatment, such as oral medication, injection frequency, and physical therapy, each time the patient visited. Results: The study included 113 shoulders from 106 patients (39 men and 67 women), with a mean age of 54 years (range, 43-75 years). For night pain treatment, median recovery time was 1, 1, and 0.5 months for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, with no significant difference. Group 1 used oral medication and injections significantly more than groups 2 and 3 ( Conclusions: Conservative treatment is effective for the treatment of frozen shoulder. In this study, it improved night pain within a month and enhanced range of motion significantly within a year. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.