Frozen shoulder refers to loss of arm movement at the shoulder joint combined with inflammation of the tissues within the joint capsule that surrounds the shoulder. These tissues become thickened and shortened and eventually “stick”together, hence the medical term, adhesive capsulitis.

What are the treatments and symptoms？
Initially, there is progressive limitation of all movements of the shoulder. This may follow a recent minor trauma, dislocation, prolonged immobilisation, heart attack (myocardial infarction) and sometimes neck problems (cervical radiculitis).

Pain may or may not accompany this, although pain will be felt if you try to exceed the limited movement. This stage is sometimes referred to as the “freezing” stage.

Eventually, the condition progresses until all movement is greatly restricted in the “frozen” stage. Usually, no pain is felt at this stage. The reverse of this process occurs during the recovery, when pain is again experienced but once movement is restored, the pain diminishes.

Early diagnosis is vital because the condition is reversible. Once it has progressed into the adhesive/frozen stage, some persistent restriction may remain. The recovery period varies depending on how long the problem has been there and its severity.


What are the treatments？
When the cause of the shoulder problem has been established, appropriate treatment can be initiated. This can range from chiropractic adjustments and physiotherapy mobilisation, ice, rest, shockwave (Figure 1), infrared, interferential therapy and eventually exercise to improve movement and strength.