What is frozen shoulder?

If your shoulder is feeling stiff, tight and immobile, it can be easy to write it off as an injury from working out too hard, sleeping poorly or the result of bad posture. But, if the pain and stiffness lingers, you may have a condition most commonly known as frozen shoulder. For most people, the condition takes two to nine months to develop.

Frozen shoulder is a progressive condition that often starts with pain in the shoulder joint during basic movement. If the condition is left untreated, pain increases and mobility decreases. Although frozen shoulder can happen to almost anyone, it is most common in adults between the ages of 40 and 60, and women in particular. Frozen shoulder occurs when the tissues around the shoulder joint thicken and tighten. If the condition is progressive, scar tissue can develop over time, which limits the space around the shoulder joint, restricting mobility. If your shoulder joint becomes less mobile, it affects the movements of the entire upper body.

Although the root cause of frozen shoulder is unknown, it is believed to occur when the lining of the shoulder joint (the capsule) becomes inflamed, causing scar tissue to form around the joint. This leaves less room for the humerus bone to move, and it will slowly stiffen as inflammation and scar tissue increases.

Primary frozen shoulder is often seen in people with diabetes, people with a hormonal imbalance, a weakened immune system or those who are prone to joint inflammation. Hormonal changes may be responsible for the higher occurrence of frozen shoulder among women than men, particularly for women who are menopausal.

Secondary frozen shoulder can also occur after a prolonged period of upper body inactivity, due to an injury, illness, or surgery.

Poor posture, in particular rounded shoulders, may cause the shortening of one of the ligaments of the shoulder, which can also contribute to developing frozen shoulder.

Other conditions that can increase frozen should risk are:

•             Parkinson’s disease

•             Stroke

•             Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism

•             Cardiovascular disease

Frozen shoulder can be left untreated, but the pain and stiffness can last up to three years, and become increasingly unbearable.

Recovery from frozen shoulder can be helped significantly with treatment, including:

•             Physiotherapy

•             Medication

•             Surgery

The most common, and often most successful treatment for frozen shoulder is physiotherapy. A trained physiotherapist will focus on stretching the shoulder joint to improve mobility and relieve pressure on the joint. Therapy can take anywhere from a few weeks to nine months depending on age, severity and other contributing conditions. A physiotherapist may also recommend self-directed gentle range of motion exercises that can be performed at home.

Medication such as anti-inflammatories can work in conjunction with physiotherapy. Surgery should only be seen as a last resort.

If you believe you may be suffering from frozen shoulder, physiotherapy can help. For a list of rehab clinics near you: www.lifemark.ca/locations