03/08/2026
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint. It happens when the connective tissue capsule surrounding the joint thickens and tightens.
🌸The condition develops slowly through three main stages and can last for many months or years.Three Stages of the Condition
🌲Freezing stage: Pain starts with any movement, and the shoulder loses its range of motion, lasting 2 to 9 months.
🌵Frozen stage: Pain may get better, but the joint becomes very stiff and hard to use, lasting 4 to 12 months.
🍀Thawing stage: Movement slowly begins to improve and return to normal, lasting 5 to 24 months.
Common Causes and Risks
Immobility: Staying still for a long time after a fracture, surgery, or stroke.
Health issues: Higher risk for people with diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, or thyroid problems.
Age and s*x: Most common in people over 40, especially women.
Treatment Options
Pain relief: Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) or prescription steroid injections.
Physical therapy: Gentle stretching and range-of-motion exercises to help loosen the joint.
Home care: Using heat or cold packs and staying gently active without forcing sharp pain.
physiotherapy treatment for frozen shoulder :
Key Exercises
Pendulum stretch: Lean over slightly and let your bad arm hang down. Swing it in small circles ten times each way.
Wall walk: Face a wall and walk your fingers up it as high as you can without sharp pain.Towel stretch: Hold a towel behind your back with both hands and use your good arm to pull the stiff arm gently upward.
Cross-body stretch: Sit or stand, then use your good arm to pull your stiff arm across your chest until you feel a light stretch.
Important Tips
Go slow: Never force your arm to move through intense pain. Stop if it hurts too much.
Warm up first: Use a warm pack on your shoulder for ten minutes before you start to loosen the tight tissues.Be daily and regular: Short, frequent exercise sessions done every day work much better than one long, hard session