Wrist-mounted accelerometers provide objective evidence of disease and recovery in patients with frozen shoulder.

Background: Commercially available wrist-mounted exercise monitors may offer objective data on disease and recovery. This study is the first to evaluate the potential of such devices in the assessment of frozen shoulder and the effects of treatment.

Methods: Twenty-one patients with isolated, unilateral frozen shoulder wore a wrist-mounted accelerometer (Fitbit Fire II, Fitbit Inc. 2007, California, USA) on each wrist for two separate seven-day periods, one week before and six months after treatment. The monitors produced an activity count for each 24-hour period, accounting for all movements of the upper limb. Three values were calculated for each time period: (1) the mean activity count for each limb, (2) the total activity count for both limbs, and (3) an activity count ratio calculated by dividing the activity of the frozen limb by the unaffected limb. Constant score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, visual analog scale-pain, and range of movement were recorded before and after treatment.

Results: Mean activity counts were significantly lower in the frozen shoulder limb than those in the unaffected limb over the initial seven-day period (6066 vs. 7516;  = .04). The activity count ratio significantly improved after treatment (0.83 vs. 096; p 0.01), whereas the mean total activity count remained similar before and after treatment (14915 vs. 12371;  = .18), demonstrating that activity transferred from the unaffected limb back to the previously frozen limb. Range of movement ( < .01), Constant ( < .01), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons ( < .01), and visual analog scale-pain ( < .01) scores all significantly improved after treatment, but there was no correlation with the data from the activity monitor.

Discussion: Wrist-mounted accelerometers are sufficiently sensitive to detect a difference in limb activity in patients affected by frozen shoulder. The movement deficit between the affected and unaffected limbs improved by 14% after treatment. These data could be used in conjunction with subjective scores to offer a clearer insight into patient disease burden and recovery.