Mission BC Healthcare Tips – Frozen Shoulder

What is Frozen Shoulder?

  • Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis) is a condition caused by surgery, injury, or, sometimes there is no known cause (insidious onset). 
  • The healing process produces collagen, designed to pull tissue together which can make the joint too tight.
  • It is more common in women, ages 40-60, and in the non-dominate arm. 
Mission BC Healthcare Tips - Frozen Shoulder

How does Frozen Shoulder progress (Phases)?

  • First Phase, Freezing – Starts with a gradual onset of shoulder pain at rest and sharp pain with movement which can last 2-9 months.
  • Second Phase, Frozen – pain at rest stops, but continues with movement. Restriction of movement in a specific (capsular) pattern starts at about 4 months and lasts for 12 months.
  • Third Phase, Thawing – progressive improvement in range of motion – can last from 5 to 24 months. 

Treatment is Physiotherapy

  • Starts with the history – what happened to cause the condition? When did it start? What makes it better or worse?   Are there other problems?
  • Examination (Assessment) – posture, body position, movement, strength, comparison with the non-effected side
  • Physiotherapy Treatment:
    • Education on your condition and how to manage it.
    • Treatment depends on the phase of the condition.
      • Freezing Phase – treated with gentle and general joint mobilizations, possibly heat, electrical stimulation, acupuncture, dry needling, and taping. And importantly, pain management.
      • Frozen Phase –
        • Specific joint mobilizations, stretches, muscle release techniques.
        • Strengthening exercises
        • Focus on normal relationship between the arm bone and the shoulder blade.
        • Care taken to avoid making the condition worse by doing too much.
      • Thawing Phase – stretching, strengthening, and returning to normal function.
  • The key is to listen to your body and seek out the proper medical attention to address concerns sooner than later.

Thanks to Joe Harvard, Oasis Physiotherapy for content of this article.