Physical Therapy for Frozen Shoulder
If you’ve ever reached for your coffee mug or gone to lift something as simple as a grocery bag but were met with stabbing shoulder pain, you might be experiencing adhesive capsulitis, or, as it’s commonly known, frozen shoulder.
Frozen shoulder is an injury that causes pain, stiffness, and limited movement in the shoulder joint due to inflammation and thickening of the joint capsule. Usually it comes on slowly and goes through three stages: the freezing stage, when the pain starts and movement becomes harder; the frozen stage, when the shoulder stays stiff but hurts less; and the thawing stage, when movement slowly starts to come back. Frozen shoulder is more likely if you have diabetes, thyroid problems, or if you haven’t moved your shoulder for an extended period of time. Physical therapy is the most common treatment for frozen shoulder with excellent outcomes.
Evolution Physical Therapy is pleased to offer a specialized team of therapists dedicated to treating conditions of the shoulder, including frozen shoulder.
What Causes a Sudden Frozen Shoulder?
Ultimately, frozen shoulder is caused by the tightening and then inflammation of the shoulder joint capsule, which in turn causes the formation of scar tissue that inhibits movement. It’s more common frozen shoulder to occur when an individual does move his or her shoulder for a period of time, though the catalyst is sometimes unknown. There are several factors that increase the risk of frozen shoulder, and these include:
- Diabetes, especially Type 1
- Thyroid disorders, including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
- Cardiovascular disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Age over 40, particularly in women
- Hormonal changes, such as those during menopause
- Prolonged shoulder immobility due to surgery, injury, or illness
- History of stroke or certain systemic conditions
Does Frozen Shoulder Go Away on Its Own?
Yes, frozen shoulder can go away on its own over time, but the process is often long and can take anywhere from one to three years to fully resolve. While some people do regain shoulder mobility without formal intervention, treatment can significantly shorten recovery time and reduce pain. Physical therapy is especially effective in helping restore movement and function. In some cases, if symptoms are severe or persist despite conservative treatment, more advanced interventions such as corticosteroid injections, joint distension, or surgery may be recommended.
Thus, even though frozen shoulder can technically resolve on it’s own, it commonly takes a while and pain persists throughout recovery. With treatment, the length of time and severity of pain can be greatly reduced.
How is Frozen Shoulder Diagnosed?
Frozen shoulder is primarily diagnosed through a clinical evaluation, which includes a review of medical history and a physical examination of the shoulder. The key signs are pain and a significant loss of both active and passive range of motion, especially external rotation.
During the exam, a doctor checks how much the arm can move by itself (active motion) and how much it can be moved by someone else (passive motion). With frozen shoulder, both types of movement are limited, which is different from other shoulder conditions where movement by someone else is usually still possible.
Imaging tests such as X-rays or MRI scans may be used to rule out other causes like arthritis, rotator cuff tears, or dislocation. While these tests don’t confirm frozen shoulder directly, they help exclude similar conditions. Diagnosis relies on identifying typical symptoms and ruling out other issues through clinical evaluation and imaging.
How Do Physical Therapists Treat Frozen Shoulder?
Physical therapy is a common and effective treatment for frozen shoulder. Care typically begins with gentle stretches to reduce pain and avoid worsening symptoms, especially in the early “freezing” stage. As the condition progresses, therapists introduce more active exercises to improve movement and flexibility. Techniques like manual therapy, heat or ice, and sometimes ultrasound or electrical stimulation may be used to support recovery. Patients are also taught posture tips and given exercises to do at home. Though progress can be slow, consistent physical therapy often leads to strong results without the need for surgery.
What is the Best Treatment for Frozen Shoulder?
Physical therapy is the standard, first-line treatment for frozen shoulder. It helps reduce pain, improve movement, and prevent stiffness through exercises and hands-on techniques based on the stage of the condition. Other options like pain medication, steroid injections, or fluid injections may help in some cases, but they are usually added when symptoms are more severe. Surgery is rarely needed and only considered when other treatments don’t work. As always, starting physical therapy early and sticking with it leads to the best outcome.
When to see a Physical Therapist for Frozen Shoulder
If you are having shoulder pain or suspect your have frozen shoulder, or your provider has referred you to physical therapy for rehabilitation, your next step will be setting up an appointment with a licensed physical therapist. At Evolution Physical Therapy, we have locations in California, Colorado, Connecticut, and Long Island, with specialist PT providers that offer a range of physical therapy services. Evolution is here to provide you with the treatment and additional support you need on your road to recovery. Reach out to us today, by calling us to set up an appointment at a location near you, or filling out our Request an Appointment form.
