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

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.