Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterized by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. It mostly affects the age group of 30-60 and is one of the most common shoulder problems amongst Indians. As per medical research, it affects 2-5% of people in general population, and more often occurs in ladies then in men. There is a loss of ability to move the shoulder, both voluntarily and by others, in multiple directions. Muscle loss around the shoulder may also occur along with reduced range of motion in frozen shoulder.
Frozen shoulder typically follows following stages:
At Vivacare Advanced Physiotherapy and Pain Clinic, we provide an individualized therapy plan to get you relief from stiffness and pain and help you gain strength in the shoulder so that you can easily perform your activities. Home exercise regime is designed by our experienced physiotherapists to help you maintain the achieved full range of motion and prevent recurrence of the problem.
If shoulder stiffness is stopping you from reaching overhead, behind your back, or sleeping on that side for more than two to three weeks, it is worth getting assessed early — frozen shoulder responds much faster to therapy when caught in the freezing stage rather than after it has fully stiffened.
Left untreated it can take 18–24 months to run its full course. With individualized physiotherapy most patients see a meaningful reduction in pain within 4–6 weeks and continue regaining range of motion over the following months.
Yes — gentle, pain-free use is encouraged. Your physiotherapist will guide you on which movements to continue and which to modify while your shoulder recovers.
It’s uncommon for the same shoulder to freeze twice, though the other shoulder can be affected separately in some people, especially if diabetes or thyroid issues are involved.
Rarely at the same time, but around 1 in 5 people go on to develop it in the other shoulder at some point, usually within a few years.
A rotator cuff tear usually causes pain with specific movements but the joint can often still be moved passively by someone else, whereas frozen shoulder restricts movement in every direction — your assessment will clarify which you have.
