Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder is the common name for a condition known as adhesive capsulitis. Frozen shoulder syndrome is a condition in which, over time, your shoulder socket becomes tight and stiff bands of tissue, called adhesions, develop around the socket. At its worst point, people who suffer from frozen shoulders are completely unable to move, rotate, or lift their arms at the shoulder.

Frozen shoulder causes are unclear. It develops mostly in people between the ages of 40 and 60 and is more likely to occur in women and people with diabetes. Frozen shoulder symptoms come on gradually over a period of months and include significant pain in the shoulder in addition to the gradual loss of mobility.

The full onset of frozen shoulder syndrome can take over two years and then may slowly begin to correct itself. Physical therapy can help improve the symptoms of frozen shoulder, but the results are often too slow and ineffective for most people who rely on proper shoulder mobility to enjoy everyday activities.