Shoulder pain caused by AC is prominent in females, in patients with a more severe range of motion limitation and the first 3 months of symptoms starting, suggested by the results of a study published in 'Musculoskeletal surgery'.

Assessment concerning adhesive capsulitis (AC) of the shoulder concentrating on aetiology, epidemiology, detection, and treatment; until now, details on shoulder pain characteristics is still scarce. The research aimed to analyse pain intensity and distribution in patients with AC. The assign section was composed of 278 (133M–145F) consecutive patients with AC. After diagnosis, shoulder pain distribution was assessed through an upper limb pain map and pain intensity through a visual analogue scale. Patients were distinguished by gender, age, the time elapsed from the onset of symptoms, and severity of functional limitation. Data were submitted to statistical analysis.

The intensity of shoulder pain caused by AC was higher in females (p < 0.05); it did not vary on the side and between patients younger and older than 55 years. Patients whose pain arose from more than three months suffered a lower potency of shoulder pain. Moreover, pain intensity was higher in the most severe form of AC (active forward flexion < 60°) (p < 0.05). The pain was localised predominantly on the anterior aspect of the shoulder (dermatomes C5–C6) and rarely continue beyond the distal third of the arm. No differences were evaluated in pain distribution between male and female, between patients with pain from less or more than three months and between different levels of AC severity (p > 0.05).

The study findings indicated that shoulder pain caused by AC is highly dependent on the gender and severity of functional limitation. It was also added that AC pain distribution includes an anterior aspect of the shoulder with the downward extension of the arm until its distal third.