Treatment of Frozen Shoulder: Best Options, Exercises & Recovery
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a painful condition that causes stiffness and limited movement in the shoulder. It usually develops gradually and may get worse before it starts to improve. The good news is that most people recover with non-surgical treatment, although healing can take months and sometimes years. NHS says frozen shoulder can last for months or years, while AAOS notes full recovery may take up to 3 years in some cases.
1. What Is Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder happens when the tissue around the shoulder joint becomes inflamed, tight, and restricted, making movement painful and difficult. Mayo Clinic explains that the connective tissue around the joint thickens and tightens, while NHS describes the tissue around the shoulder joint becoming inflamed and then tighter, which leads to pain and stiffness.
2. Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder
The two main symptoms of frozen shoulder are:
Pain in the shoulder, often worse at night
Stiffness, especially when trying to lift or rotate the arm
- NHS identifies pain and stiffness as the main symptoms, and Mayo Clinic notes that range-of-motion exercises are central to treatment because movement becomes restricted.
3. Common day-to-day problems include:
- Difficulty dressing
- Trouble reaching overhead
- Pain when sleeping on the affected side
- Limited ability to wash hair or reach behind the back
What Causes Frozen Shoulder?
In many cases, the exact cause is not clear. It can happen after an injury or surgery that limits shoulder movement, and it is more common in people with diabetes. AAOS and Mayo Clinic also note increased risk in people with thyroid conditions, and Mayo Clinic lists cardiovascular disease and Parkinson’s disease as additional risk factors.