Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder is an inflammatory condition which inhibits movement in the shoulder.



The clinical term for the condition is adhesive capsulitis. The shoulder joint is a capsule with ligaments which join the shoulder bones to one other. When there is an inflammation in the shoulder joint, the shoulder bones have less ability to move freely in the capsule.



An increased risk for frozen shoulder stems from conditions such as diabetes, shoulder trauma (that includes surgery), open heart surgery, hyperthyroidism, and cervical disk disease.

Symptoms of Frozen shoulder

The two main symptoms of frozen shoulder are pain and stiffness. This results in lack of movement that, subsequently, leads to an involuntary stiffness. This is the second phase of frozen shoulder.



The third phase is thawing. This is a gradual return of motion and function.

Signs and tests of Frozen shoulder

The diagnosis of frozen shoulder is mainly done by physical exam and the patient’s medical history. Generally, the patient will have had a history of shoulder pain. This is followed by acute stiffness which might or might not be painful. If the sufferer has a history of any of the above mentioned risk factors linked to frozen shoulder, they might call for immediate treatment too. Imaging studies like X-rays are routine. These are done to ensure that there is no other problem, like arthritis. MRI exams may show diffuse inflammation. Nevertheless there are no findings that are specific to frozen shoulder.

Treatment of Frozen shoulder

The main treatment of frozen shoulder is with the help of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, called NSAIDs as well as physical therapy. While frozen shoulder improves almost every time with this intervention, it could take up to a year or a year and a half to see improve. The physical therapy is powerful and has to be done by the patient on an everyday basis at home, if it is to be successful.