Frozen Shoulder

What is frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder (also called “adhesive capsulitis”) is a common condition that results in the progressive stiffening of the shoulder joint. It is more commonly experienced by women and most frequently seen in the 40 to 60 year age group. It is characterised by a decreased range of movement of the shoulder in all directions and by diffuse tenderness around the joint margins. The key to successfully managing frozen shoulder boils down to ensuring an accurate diagnosis and a precise ‘staging’ (discussed below). This is not always easy. Many other conditions can mimic the initial symptoms of frozen shoulder and may in fact co-exist. Your physiotherapist will assess your shoulder for damage to the rotator cuff muscles, bursitis (of which there are several), arthritis and problems with the cervical spine which may be referring pain to the shoulder. Additionally, your physiotherapist will also asses the sternoclavicular (SC) joint and the acromioclavicular (AC) joint for problems that can present in a similar fashion.

Additional differential diagnoses for frozen shoulder include joint infection, joint degeneration (shoulder, AC and SC joint) as well as Pancoast’s tumour. Your therapist will exclude these diagnoses in order to confirm frozen shoulder.

Frozen shoulder is a frustrating problem for both patient and therapist. Left untreated, most cases of frozen shoulder will fully recover within 18-24 months. In fact, even with treatment (medical or physiotherapy) the duration of the affliction is unlikely to change significantly. The aim of physiotherapy therefore is to accurately diagnose the condition and its pathological staging (discussed below). Physiotherapy will also reduce the loss of joint movement so that some functional capabilities will remain. This may sound a bit like ‘damage control’ but it can make considerable difference to the patient’s lifestyle and vocational capabilities during the recovery period.

What causes frozen shoulder?

The cause of frozen shoulder is not fully understood. It can develop spontaneously (without any obvious cause) or can develop following shoulder trauma, prolonged immobility of the arm (following a fracture or surgery) or concomitantly with other shoulder pathologies. Thickening and contracture (tightening) of the shoulder capsule is the end result and it is this that brings about a reduced range of movement in the joint. Frozen shoulder is more commonly seen in people with diabetes, thyroid disorders as well as Parkinson’s disease and cardiovascular disease. It may also occur in people without systemic illness or autoimmune diseases.

How is frozen shoulder diagnosed?

The diagnosis of frozen shoulder can usually be made on clinical presentation alone – taking a good medical history and performing a thorough physical examination. Imaging such as x-ray, MRI’s or bone scans may be suggested to rule out other diagnoses or to confirm the presence of co-existing pathologies for which alternate treatments may be available.

Staging frozen shoulder

Having established the diagnosis it is then necessary to ‘stage’ the condition. Frozen shoulder progresses through 3 “stages” each one usually lasting between 6 to 9 months.

The first stage (often called a “freezing shoulder”) is when movement of the joint gradually lessens and pain develops. The aim during this stage is to maintain as much range of movement as possible and hence limit the degree of joint stiffness. Overly aggressive manual therapy or exercise can worsen the situation and so your physiotherapist will rely heavily on the feedback you provide following the intervention or exercises you receive. If improvements in range and/or pain are not readily forthcoming during this period, cease physiotherapy and concentrate solely on the home exercise programme that you will be given.

The second stage (often called the true “frozen shoulder”) is effectively a levelling out of symptoms. It does not necessarily mean that the shoulder will be left completely immobilised but rather that the deterioration (reduction in range or worsening of pain) will have ceased. Again, physiotherapy techniques to loosen the shoulder joint, AC and SC joints as well as the cervical spine and muscles around the shoulder may be able to improve symptoms during this period. Again, if improvement is not obvious and immediately forthcoming (within 1 or 2 consultations) it is best (safest and cheapest) to stick with a home mobility and strengthening programme. This second stage is often the shortest of the three stages.

The third stage (a “thawing shoulder”) begins at the time when improvements in range and reductions in pain begin to occur. This is the time in which manual physiotherapy interventions are most effective. Manual joint and muscle release techniques, although uncomfortable, can considerably improve symptoms. In most cases, one or two consultations every 1 to 2 months is all that is required. Remember, if improvement is not significant with these treatments, discuss it with your physiotherapist. This allows for your treatments to be adapted, intensified or ceased completely if necessary. Your therapist will continue to rely heavily on the feedback you give them following each treatment.

Many patients fall into the cycle of continuing with regular (and costly) physiotherapy treatments which do little more than babysit the injury whist it recovers on its own. If you do not feel you are getting substantial benefit from treatment, cease. Remember, frozen shoulder is a problem that will resolve by itself in due time. Physiotherapy simply aims to punctuate bursts of improvement during the natural course of the pathology, reduce the likelihood of secondary shoulder and neck problems and facilitate daily function of the arm.

Medical management options for treating frozen shoulder

The severity of frozen shoulder can vary greatly from patient to patient. Some people require little more than oral analgesics or anti-inflammatories to assist them through their recovery period. Others may require corticosteroid injections or manipulation of the shoulder joint under general anaesthetic. Hyperdilation (also called hydrodilation) involves injecting the shoulder joint with saline to expand and stretch the joint capsule. The outcome of this technique is not always predictable and tends to work better for improving range than it does for decreasing pain. A corticosteroid injection into the joint may be of benefit to assist with pain reduction. It is important to remember that neither injection will shorten the total duration of the recovery.

If you have any further questions on this subject, or you would like to contact the physiotherapist best suited to managing your problem please call or email us.