Frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition where the shoulder joint becomes stiff and painful for extended periods of time. The stiffness of the shoulder can last from 1 year up to 3 years before an individual sees any improvement in motion.

Frozen shoulder occurs when tissue surrounding the shoulder becomes inflamed, it is believed to be caused by previous trauma to the shoulder or diabetes, the latter is still unclear.

Symptoms of frozen shoulder typically appear in 3 stages:

Freezing,

Frozen and

Thawing stage.

Freezing stage includes pain on any movement of the shoulder with limited movement. This can from 2 to 9 months.

Frozen stage is when the shoulder becomes even stiffer but there is a possibility that pain may lessen. This stage typically lasts from 4 to 12 months

The final stage, the Thawing stage, shoulder movement begins to improve, and this can last from 5 to 24 months.

The Physiotherapist will assess the frozen shoulder case by case and make a treatment plan for each patient.