Association between shoulder girdle muscles trigger points and frozen shoulder: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Frozen shoulder (FS) or adhesive capsulitis is a common shoulder condition characterized by pain, stiffness, and restricted active and passive range of motion. Evidence suggests that trigger points (TrP) may play a role in frozen shoulder, especially in restricting range of motion.

Objective: To determine an association between shoulder girdle muscles TrPs and frozen shoulder.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 49 patients diagnosed with having a frozen shoulder. All subjects were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria and examined for the presence of shoulder girdle muscles TrPs.

Results: There was an association between TrPs in the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, middle deltoid, upper trapezius, and levator scapula muscles and frozen shoulder (P value -<.05), but there was no association for TrPs in the posterior deltoid, teres major, and pectoralis major muscles (P value > .05).

Conclusion: Trigger points in the supraspinatus and levator scapula muscles had a strong association with FS. Trigger points in the anterior deltoid and middle deltoid muscles had a moderate association, and TrPs in the infraspinatus, teres minor, and upper trapezius had a weak association.

Keywords: Adhesive capsulitis; Frozen shoulder; Trigger points.