What we treat Shoulder
Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
Adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as frozen shoulder, is a condition characterized by stiffness and pain in your shoulder joint, typically with gradual onset and no clear mechanics of injury. It occurs when the connective tissue surrounding the joint thickens and tightens, severely restricting your range of motion and affecting daily activities.
The 3 Stages of Frozen Shoulder
Stage 1 (Freezing Stage) - During this painful stage, the shoulder gradually loses range of motion. Pain typically increases at night and makes it difficult to sleep on the affected side. This phase can last from 6 weeks to 9 months.
Stage 2 (Frozen Stage) - Pain may actually begin to decrease with proper treatment, but the shoulder becomes extremely stiff. Movement is severely restricted, and daily tasks become significantly challenging. This phase lasts between 4 and 12 months.
Stage 3 (Thawing Stage) - Range of motion slowly begins to return. The joint's mobility improves significantly as the capsule begins to loosen. Completely returning to normal strength and motion can take from 6 months to 2 years.
Common Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder
Usually a dull or aching pain located deep in the shoulder joint, often worsening at night or when trying to sleep on the affected side.
An inability to move the shoulder through its normal range of motion, making daily tasks like dressing or reaching overhead extremely difficult.
Symptoms typically develop in stages, starting with a 'freezing' phase where pain increases and range of motion begins to decline steadily.
The Evaluation
Physical therapists use specific clinical signs to confirm Frozen Shoulder:
- Significant loss of active and passive range of motion.
- Pain at the end-ranges of movement.
- 'Capsular pattern' restriction (greatest loss in external rotation).
- Assessment of compensatory/dysfunctional movement patterns in the shoulder blade.
Evidence-Based Treatment for Frozen Shoulder
Hands-on shoulder mobilizations help decrease pain and improve joint lubrication. Our therapists use targeted glides to lengthen the capsule and restore normal joint mechanics.
Targeted needling releases muscular trigger points in the rotator cuff and periscapular muscles that often tighten as a protective response to capsular freezing.
We utilize clinical interventions to retrain the brain-muscle connection, ensuring that your shoulder blade moves in proper rhythm with your arm to prevent impingement symptoms.
Evidence-based exercise programming specifically designed for the 'thawing' phase, focusing on multi-planar strength to ensure your recovery is smooth and as pain-free as possible.
Exercises to Start With
Gentle therapeutic exercises to begin the recovery process and restore mobility safely under guidance.
Pendulums - Relax your shoulders. Lean forward and let your affected arm hang down. Swing the arm in small circles.
Towel IR stretch - Hold a towel behind your back. Use your good arm to pull the towel and your affected arm upward toward your shoulder.
Wall Walks - Face a wall. Reach out and touch the wall. Use your fingers to 'walk' up the wall as high as you can comfortably.
Tell us what you want to return to?
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If it sounds like what you have, an evaluation is where we find out properly.