[Introduction]

    Scapulohumeral periarthritis refers to a kind of soft tissue disorder of the shoulder due to retrograde disease aggravated by long-term sprain and attack of cold or trau-matic injury that lead to chronic inflammation of the joint capsule and the soft tissues around the joint, extensive ad-hesion of the peripheral tissues and restriction of the movement of shoulder joint. It is usually seen among peo-ple over 50. Clinical manifestations are aching, heaviness and pain in the shoulder as well as dys of the shoulder in movement. This disease pertains to the con-ception of obstructive syndrome in TCM. It is caused ei-ther by invasion of pathogenic wind, cold and dampness due to asthenia; or by weakness in the aged and malnutri-tion of tendons and vessels; or by stagnation of qi and blood as well as retention of dampness and phlegm that block the meridians, prevent the flow of qi and blood and lead to dys of the tendons and vessels.

    [Syndrome differentiation]

    1. Wind-cold attacking the exterior

    Short duration, pain, aching and heaviness in the shoulder, or pain involving the back and arm, aggravation in the night,  restricted movement,  alleviation with warmth and aggravation after the attack by wind and cold.

    2. Retention of pathogenic factors due to asthe-nia of healthy qi

    Lingering duration, evident restriction in lifting, ab-duction and intorsion, or atrophy of local muscles and cold sensation in the arm.

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