Orthopedics 206: Frozen Shoulder Evaluation | Chiropractic CE

Frozen shoulder — clinically known as adhesive capsulitis — remains one of the most misunderstood and undertreated conditions in musculoskeletal practice, leaving patients with months or years of unexplained pain and progressively restricted range of motion. Chiropractors evaluating shoulder complaints must be equipped with both traditional orthopedic frameworks and the emerging functional neurology perspectives that are reshaping how this diagnosis is approached. This 2-hour online chiropractic CE course from CCEDseminars bridges established clinical evaluation methods with contemporary insights into adhesive capsulitis pathophysiology.

What You Will Learn

• Review the evaluation process of the frozen shoulder, including clinical presentation and assessment tools
• Discuss the epidemiology and prevalence of adhesive capsulitis across patient populations
• Outline orthopedic considerations including provocation tests, imaging findings, and differential diagnosis
• Outline considerations in functional neurology and how emerging perspectives inform chiropractic management

Course Overview

Frozen shoulder — adhesive capsulitis — has long challenged clinicians with its variable presentation, unpredictable timeline, and inconsistent response to standard care. This chiropractic CE course begins with a foundational overview of the condition: who it affects, how it progresses through its classic freezing, frozen, and thawing phases, and why the diagnosis is so frequently delayed or mismanaged. Participants will revisit core epidemiological data, including prevalence rates in the general population and elevated risk among patients with diabetes, thyroid disorders, and prolonged shoulder immobilization.

The traditional evaluation framework covers orthopedic provocative testing — including the Apley scratch test, Neer impingement sign, Hawkins-Kennedy maneuver, and passive range-of-motion assessment — alongside neurological screening and relevant imaging modalities. Radiographic findings, MRI arthrography, and ultrasonographic patterns are discussed in the context of distinguishing adhesive capsulitis from rotator cuff pathology, glenohumeral arthritis, and cervical radiculopathy mimicry. This comparative evaluation approach ensures that clinicians are ordering appropriate studies and interpreting results within the full clinical picture.

The second major focus of the course introduces new and contemporary perspectives on the frozen shoulder. Functional neurology offers a lens through which altered sensorimotor integration, cortical reorganization, and sympathetic nervous system involvement may contribute to the chronicity and recalcitrance of the condition. Emerging imaging research and clinical evidence have challenged the purely mechanical model of adhesive capsulitis, opening the door for chiropractors trained in neurological assessment to play an expanded role in evaluation and co-management. This course equips doctors of chiropractic with the knowledge to integrate these perspectives into their clinical reasoning.

Course Outline

1. The Frozen Shoulder — overview, classification, and epidemiology
2. Traditional Evaluation of the Frozen Shoulder — Orthopedics, Neurology, and Imaging
3. New Considerations for the Frozen Shoulder — Imaging advances and emerging clinical perspectives

About the Instructor

Frequently Asked Questions

Certification & Programs

Orthopedics 206 may be applied toward CCEDseminars specialty certification tracks — learn more about available certification pathways at the CCEDseminars Certification Programs page.

State CE Requirements

Chiropractic CE hour requirements and approved course categories vary by state — review the State CE Requirements Guide to confirm that Orthopedics 206 satisfies your licensing board's specifications before registering.

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References

1. Hsu JE, Anakwenze OA, Warrender WJ, Abboud JA. Current review of adhesive capsulitis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2011;20(3):502–514. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2010.08.023. PubMed
2. Bunker TD. Time for a new name for frozen shoulder — contracture of the shoulder. Shoulder Elbow. 2009;1(1):4–9. doi:10.1111/j.1758-5740.2009.00007.x. PubMed
3. Le HV, Lee SJ, Nazarian A, Rodriguez EK. Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: review of pathophysiology and current clinical treatments. Shoulder Elbow. 2017;9(2):75–84. doi:10.1177/1758573216676786. PubMed Central
4. Neviaser AS, Hannafin JA. Adhesive capsulitis: a review of current treatment. Am J Sports Med. 2010;38(11):2346–2356. doi:10.1177/0363546509348048. PubMed