FROZEN SHOULDER
Here at Family and Sports Physical Therapy we treat a number of persons who suffer from Frozen Shoulder or Adhesive Capsulitis of the Glenohumeral joint.
There are typically 3 stages involved in the disease process:
Stage 1 - “Freezing” stage which typically last 6 weeks to 9 months and is painful with shoulder movement.
Stage 2 - “Frozen” stage which typically last 4-6 months. Shoulder movement may not be as painful, but shoulder movement is very restricted.
Stage 3 - “Thawing” stage can last 6 months to 2 years. Shoulder motion begins to slowly return to normal.
Facts:
Women are 70% more likely to develop frozen shoulder than men
Typically occurs between the ages of 40-70
70% of those who develop it are Diabetics
Common causes of frozen shoulder are:
Long term immobilization, such as wearing a sling
Fracture of the arm or shoulder
Surgery of the arm or shoulder
Stroke
Shoulder joint involved in Adhesive Capsulitis or Frozen Shoulder
Synovial membrane or capsule is involved in Adhesive Capsulitis or Frozen Shoulder