Blog post from our board member Dr. Robert Bacci: Physical therapy for a frozen shoulder – Courtesy of Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy
Understanding a frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis diagnosis is important, so we wrote this article below to help those in need.
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW FINDS THAT SEVERAL TYPES OF EXERCISE
LEAD TO IMPROVEMENTS FOR PATIENTS WITH FROZEN SHOULDER
Adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, occurs when scar tissue forms within the shoulder. This causes the shoulder capsule to thicken and tighten around the shoulder joint, which means there is less room to move the shoulder normally. Although frozen shoulder affects up to 5% of the population, the reasons why it develops have not yet been clearly established. It is generally believed that not moving the shoulder normally for long periods is a leading factor, as most people who get frozen shoulder have kept their shoulder immobilized due to a recent injury, surgery, or pain. People between the ages of 40–60, women, and patients with arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other health conditions are also more likely to develop frozen shoulder.
Frozen shoulder usually develops slowly and gets progressively worse over time with more pain and loss of motion. It is typically divided into the following four stages:
- Stage 1: consists of the onset of symptoms, which gradually get worse over 1–3 months
- Stage 2: the “freezing” stage, which generally occurs 3–9 months after symptoms begin and is very painful
- Stage 3: the “frozen” stage, which involves the shoulder becoming even more stiff and difficult to move
- Stage 4: the “thawing” stage, which occurs within 12–15 months and involves pain decreasing significantly and range of motion starting to improve read more…