Adhesive capsulitis and the stiff and painful shoulder.

The author has endeavored to differentiate between the stiff and painful shoulder and adhesive capsulitis. Although the symptoms and the clinical findings can be quite similar, the arthrographic diagnosis and treatment are much different. Treatment is based upon the degree of severity of restricted motions and upon the dye capacity of the shoulder joint at the time of arthrography. It is suggested that the terms adhesive capsulitis and stiff and painful shoulder be utilized as they apply to the given situation rather than continuing to propagate the useless misnomer, "frozen shoulder."