Frozen Shoulder: What Is It and What Are Your Treatment Options?

Basic Shoulder Anatomy

Possible Causes of Frozen Shoulder

The causes of frozen shoulder are not completely understood and an exact cause can’t always be identified, but most people suffering from the condition also experienced an injury of some sort. Possible causes can include:

• Tendinitis (inflammation of your rotator cuff or biceps tendon)
• Bursitis (inflammation of the fluid sacs between your joints)
• Rotator cuff injury
• Diabetes
• Chronic inflammatory arthritis of the shoulder
• Long-term immobility of the shoulder joint

Available Frozen Shoulder Treatment Options

The symptoms of adhesive capsulitis often develop gradually over time, but that doesn’t mean the condition isn’t extremely bothersome and painful. If you’re suffering from frozen shoulder or shoulder pain similar to it, now is the time to take advantage of available treatment options.

Here are some of the frozen shoulder treatments currently available:

• Medications: Over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen and prescription painkillers can help reduce inflammation and pain.
• Compression packs: Hot or cold compression packs can also help reduce inflammation and pain.
• Steroid shots: Corticosteroid injected into your shoulder joint helps alleviate pain and inflammation.
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): TENS numbs nerve endings in your spinal cord that control pain.
• Shoulder manipulation: The practitioner gently moves your shoulder joint while you are under a general anesthetic.
• Shoulder arthroscopy: This minimally invasive surgery is not as common as other treatments. A small endoscope, or tube, is inserted through a small incision to remove any scar tissue
• Physical therapy/exercise: Specific exercises can help you maintain as much mobility and flexibility as possible without overworking or straining your shoulder.

Over-the-counter medication, compression packs, and exercise are the quickest and easiest frozen shoulder treatments and should be your first means of attacking that chronic shoulder pain.

If you’d like to try specific exercises to help reduce stiffness and pain, try the ones listed below. As your symptoms improve, start adding rotator cuff-strengthening exercises to the mix.



NOTE: Make sure you warm up that shoulder before beginning any exercise and don’t stretch to the point of pain.

Frozen Shoulder Exercises

Pendulum Stretch
Stand up and lean over slightly. Let the affected arm hang down. Swing the arm in a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Do 12 rotations in each direction every day. As your shoulder starts feeling better, increase the diameter of your circle. You can also hold a light weight (three to five pounds) in your hand.

Towel or Band Stretch
Grab a towel with both hands behind your back (holding it horizontally). Use your good arm to pull the towel up and to the side until you feel a stretch. Hold the stretch for 5 seconds and repeat 3 to 5 times a day. When your symptoms improve, you can drape the towel over your good shoulder, hold the bottom of it with your affected arm, and use your good arm to pull it up the lower back.

Cross-Body Stretch
Do this stretch sitting or standing. Use your good arm to lift your other arm at the elbow, bringing it up and across your body. Gently apply pressure to stretch your shoulder and hold for 15 to 20 seconds. Repeat this stretch 3 to 5 times a day.

Overhead Raise
Lie on your back with your head on a pillow. Hold the wrist of your affected arm with your other hand, thumbs pointed up. Gently lift your affected arm over your head as far as is comfortable. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat for 1 minute. Repeat this exercise 3 to 5 times a day.