Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a condition causing progressive stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint, treated with physical therapy to restore range of motion and reduce pain.
Definition
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a condition causing progressive stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint, treated with physical therapy to restore range of motion and reduce pain.
In-Depth
What You Need to Know
Frozen shoulder occurs when the shoulder joint capsule becomes thickened, tight, and inflamed, with adhesions restricting movement. It progresses through three stages: freezing (2-9 months — gradually increasing pain and decreasing motion), frozen (4-12 months — pain may decrease but stiffness persists), and thawing (5-24 months — gradual improvement). It most commonly affects women aged 40-60 and is associated with diabetes (10-20% of diabetics develop it), thyroid disorders, and prolonged immobilization. Physical therapy is the primary treatment, focusing on gentle, progressive stretching (pendulum exercises, wall walks, cross-body stretches), joint mobilization, and modalities for pain management. Aggressive stretching can worsen the condition. Adjunct treatments include corticosteroid injections (most effective in the freezing stage), hydrodilatation, manipulation under anesthesia, and arthroscopic capsular release for refractory cases. Full recovery typically takes 12-24 months, with physical therapy significantly shortening this timeline.
Calls & Questions
What Patients Ask
Common phone questions about frozen shoulder — and how Front Desk handles scheduling and call routing automatically.
Common Patient Questions
- 1How long does frozen shoulder take to heal?
- 2Can physical therapy cure frozen shoulder?
- 3What causes frozen shoulder?
- 4Should I push through the pain with exercises?
How Front Desk Helps Your Practice
Front Desk captures frozen shoulder symptom details from callers, schedules evaluations, and sets realistic recovery expectations (months, not weeks).
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about frozen shoulder.
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a condition causing progressive stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint, treated with physical therapy to restore range of motion and reduce pain. Frozen shoulder occurs when the shoulder joint capsule becomes thickened, tight, and inflamed, with adhesions restricting movement. It progresses through three stages: freezing (2-9 months — gradually increasing pain and decreasing motion), frozen (4-12 months — pain may decrease but stiffness persists), and thawing (5-24 months — gradual improvement).
Your physical therapy provider can answer this during your appointment. Front Desk captures frozen shoulder symptom details from callers, schedules evaluations, and sets realistic recovery expectations (months, not weeks).
Your physical therapy provider can answer this during your appointment. Front Desk captures frozen shoulder symptom details from callers, schedules evaluations, and sets realistic recovery expectations (months, not weeks).
Your physical therapy provider can answer this during your appointment. Front Desk captures frozen shoulder symptom details from callers, schedules evaluations, and sets realistic recovery expectations (months, not weeks).
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