What Is Frozen Shoulder?

Who is at risk?

Frozen shoulder affects two to five percent of people at some point during their life; women are at higher risk for this condition than men are. Although the exact cause of frozen shoulder is unknown, we do know that risk factors for this painful condition include diabetes, thyroid disorder, a history of shoulder injuries, and periods of shoulder immobilization. You may be at higher risk if you are recovering from a medical condition or procedure that affects the mobility of your arm, such as a stroke or a mastectomy.

Research suggests that this condition begins with an inflammation of the lining of the shoulder joint. Gradually, the lining thickens, the shoulder becomes stiffer, and pain increases.

Three stages of progression

The progression of frozen shoulder moves through three stages that can occur over one to two years.

• Pain stage. The shoulder is very painful during use and when the patient is at rest. This stage can last between four to nine months, and is characterized by an increase in shoulder stiffness over time.
• Frozen stage. The shoulder remains very stiff and painful when the patient attempts to use it, but pain dissipates when the shoulder is at rest. This stage can last from four months to a year.
• Thawing stage. Slowly, the patient regains the ability to move the shoulder over a period of several months.

How it’s diagnosed

Frozen shoulder won’t appear on X-rays, and is usually made through physician diagnosis and review of the patient’s medical history. An examination and comparison of the range of motion between the affected shoulder and the normal shoulder usually confirms the condition.

Treatment

Treating frozen shoulder requires tremendous patience. Recovery is slow, and relatively few medical shortcuts are available to restore shoulder motion. During the pain stage, medication and cortisone shots may be used to control the patient’s discomfort. A physical therapy program of stretching will help to limit the loss of shoulder motion in the early stages of the condition, and restore lost shoulder motion when the shoulder moves into the frozen stage. Surgery is rarely necessary for frozen shoulder, and should only be considered after the majority of shoulder pain has resolved, and if the patient is unable to reclaim range of motion.

Summit Orthopedics offers comprehensive sports medicine expertise

From Olympians to pro athletes to kids in youth sports and those that just want to be more active—Summit Orthopedics delivers expert care by fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians. If you are recently injured or concerned about ongoing pain, Summit Orthopedics sports medicine specialists have the expertise to evaluate your discomfort and develop a plan to quickly and safely help you get back to being active.

Start your journey to stronger, healthier athletic condition. Find your sports medicine expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a sports medicine consultation.

Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Plymouth, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.

More resources for you

• Ask Dr. Warner: When Should I See A Doctor For Shoulder Pain?
• Dislocated Shoulders: Not A Do-It-Yourself Project
• Recovering From A Dislocated Shoulder
• Research Compares Non-Surgical Treatments For Shoulder Pain
• Simple Habits for Shoulder Health
• What’s New in Minimally Invasive Shoulder Surgery?

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