College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

What condition is characterized by pain and restriction in all shoulder joint motions?

1. Osteoarthritis

2. Calcific tendonitis

3. Adhesive capsulitis

4. Subacromial bursitis

The correct answer is: Adhesive capsulitis

The condition characterized by pain and restriction in all shoulder joint motions is adhesive capsulitis, often referred to as frozen shoulder. This condition involves inflammation and thickening of the shoulder joint capsule, leading to significant stiffness and pain that severely limits both active and passive range of motion. In adhesive capsulitis, the hallmark symptoms include a gradual onset of shoulder pain followed by a progressive loss of motion in all directions—forward flexion, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation. This restriction is often described as a "frozen" state where daily activities that involve shoulder movement can become quite challenging. In contrast, other shoulder conditions like osteoarthritis, calcific tendonitis, and subacromial bursitis can present with pain and may limit motion, but they typically do not cause such a pervasive restriction across all movements of the shoulder joint. Osteoarthritis, for example, can lead to joint pain, particularly with certain movements, but does not usually result in the extreme limitation seen in adhesive capsulitis. Calcific tendonitis often causes localized pain and may limit specific movements due to impingement, rather than comprehensive motion loss. Subacromial bursitis can lead to pain, especially with overhead activities, but again does not restrict all