New research published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery suggests that there may be a significant genetic component to frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis.
Frozen shoulder is an incredibly common shoulder condition that affects upwards of 10 percent of people at some point in their life. The condition involves a significant loss in mobility in the shoulder joint that is the result of scarring or thickening of the protective capsule around the shoulder joint. Frozen shoulder can develop for a number of reasons, and oftentimes its onset can be traced back to injury, surgery or complications related to other conditions like a thyroid disorder or diabetes.
However, studies have also shown that frozen shoulder tends to be more common in patients who have a relative with the condition, which suggests that a genetic predisposition may exist. To learn more about this possible genetic connection, researchers from the Hospital for Specialty Surgery conducted a genome-wide association study to identify specific genes that may be connected to an increased risk of frozen shoulder.
Frozen Shoulder And Genetic Risk
After examining a large database of more than 500,000 patients, researchers identified 2,141 patients with adhesive capsulitis. This group was compared to a randomized control group, and possible genetic associations were adjusted for other factors, like sex, diabetes, smoking or a history of shoulder issues.
The study identified three significant genetic loci for frozen shoulder, with the strongest association being for gene variants located at a site called WNT7B. Interestingly, this finding was consistent with previous studies that reported a possible link between WNR7B and frozen shoulder. Two weaker associations were found for two previously unreported genetic loci located near genes POU1F1 and MAU2.
After analyzing the data, researchers found that these three genetic variations accounted for nearly a six-fold increase in the odds of developing frozen shoulder. This was greater than diabetes (four-fold increase) and thyroid disease (two-fold). The only risk factor with a greater increase in eventual frozen shoulder onset was smoking, which makes a person 11 times more likely to develop a frozen shoulder.
And while this may seem like a roundabout and somewhat complex way of saying that frozen shoulder risk may be tied to your family history and your genes, the findings are significant because it may help shift how the condition is prevented and treated. At-risk patients may be able to be identified sooner, which can allow for earlier intervention and a better shot at preventing frozen shoulder in the first place.
More research is certainly needed, but if the results hold true, medical experts will soon be working on simple tests to look for these genetic predisposition to help identify high-risk individuals so that they can work to mitigate their risk ahead of time. The more we know about the underlying causes and risk factors, the better we can help our patients.
If you’re dealing with frozen shoulder or another shoulder issue, take care of the problem before symptoms get worse. For more information, or for help with your shoulder issue, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
