Overview:
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a medical condition that involves progresive pain and loss of motion in the shoulder joint. The exact cause of frozen shoulder is not known. However, it is more common in females than males. The process of frozen shoulder results from a thickening and shortening of the capsule that surrounds the shoulder joint.
Symptoms:
The hallmark symptoms of frozen shoulder include pain located along the shoulder joint and restricted motion. Shoulder range of motion is limited in both the active and passive phases.
Stages of Frozen Shoulder :
Frozen shoulder has been described as having three stages:
Stage One- The Freezing Stage: A slow onset of shoulder pain is experienced. As the pain progresses, the shoulder starts to lose motion.
Stage One- The Freezing Stage: A slow onset of shoulder pain is experienced. As the pain progresses, the shoulder starts to lose motion.
Stage Two- The Frozen Stage: The shoulder continues to be restricted in motion, but the pain becomes less
Stage Three- The Thawing Stage: During stage three, shoulder motion gradually returns.
Treatment:
A physical therapy regimen of gentle stretches and range of motion exercises is often the best treatment option for correcting the symptoms of frozen shoulder.
