Adhesive Capsulitis Case Study Essay

A little background information on Gary who came to the clinic with right shoulder pain. Gary is a 40 year old self-employed painter. He has had a cortisone injection that proved to be helpful for about five months. However, the pain returned and is a 5/10. Gary has been taking ibuprofen which hasn’t helped and using ice for some relief. There are several possible causes for Gary’s shoulder pain. For example, Gary could have Adhesive Capsulitis, Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis, Bicep Tendonitis, Suprascapular Neuropathy and Cervical Radiculopathy. Each of these pathologies will be discussed and either ruled in or out throughout this paper. The first pathology that will be discussed is Adhesive Capsulitis. This is a possibility because it has an insidious onset. It occurs in four stages according to Physiotherapy (2012a). The …show more content…
The MRI will confirm the tear and its size. The size of the tear will have an impact on the prognosis. The stage of impingement will have an effect as well (Physiotherapy, 2012d). Neer’s stage one of impingement will have some edema and usually occurs in patients less than twenty five year of age. Stage two of impingement causes changes in the tendons that are being effected and the patient is usually 25 to 40 years old. Stage three usually effects patients over 40 and is a partial or complete rupture of the tendons effected and possible change of the acromion. (Physiotherapy, 2012d) Gary seems to fall under stage two because of age and because of the inflammation and possible tear of the supraspinatus tendon. The prognosis also depends on being able to control aggravating factors. Gary is self-employed with a family and unable to take time off from work. The PT will need to advise him on functional movements or activity modification as to not increase his symptoms and cause more or other