What is a common presenting symptom of frozen shoulder?

Loss of active and passive shoulder rotation is indeed a common presenting symptom of frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis. In this condition, the shoulder capsule becomes thickened and tightly adheres to the humeral head, leading to a significant decrease in both movement types. Patients typically experience a gradual onset of shoulder stiffness, resulting in limited range of motion in various directions, particularly during external rotation and elevation. This restriction is a hallmark feature of frozen shoulder and distinguishes it from other shoulder conditions.

The other symptoms may be associated with different shoulder issues. For instance, severe pain during exercise can occur with various musculoskeletal conditions, but it is not as defining a symptom for frozen shoulder, which is characterized more by stiffness than pain alone. Visible swelling and redness along with warmth over the shoulder might indicate inflammatory conditions such as bursitis or infection, rather than frozen shoulder itself, which often does not present with these findings.