Frozen shoulder, medically known as adhesive capsulitis, causes stiffness and pain that can make even simple tasks like reaching for a shelf or fastening a seatbelt difficult. Frozen shoulder physiotherapy is the most effective non-surgical way to restore movement.
What Causes Frozen Shoulder?
It develops when the connective tissue around the shoulder joint thickens and tightens, often following a period of reduced shoulder movement, such as after an injury, surgery, or a condition like diabetes. In many cases, no clear cause is identified.
The Three Stages
- Freezing stage: Gradually increasing pain and reducing range of motion, lasting weeks to months
- Frozen stage: Pain may ease somewhat but stiffness remains severe, limiting daily activities
- Thawing stage: Movement gradually returns, sometimes over many months
How Physiotherapy Helps
Our physiotherapy team uses a combination of gentle stretching, manual therapy, and modalities to manage pain, tailored to which stage of frozen shoulder you’re in. Pushing too hard too early can worsen inflammation, so treatment intensity is carefully matched to your current stage.
What You Can Do at Home
Consistent, gentle stretching exercises between sessions, done within a comfortable range, help maintain gains made in therapy. Applying heat before stretching and ice after activity can also help manage discomfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does frozen shoulder usually last?
Without treatment, it can take 1 to 3 years to resolve on its own. With appropriate physiotherapy, many patients see faster, more complete recovery.
Is frozen shoulder linked to any other conditions?
It is more common in people with diabetes and thyroid conditions, and often follows periods of shoulder immobility such as after surgery elsewhere in the body.
Will I need surgery for frozen shoulder?
Most cases improve with physiotherapy alone. Surgery or a manipulation procedure is considered only when conservative treatment doesn’t produce adequate improvement.
To know if this is the right program for you or your loved one, speak with our rehabilitation specialists at Veritas Hospitals, Hyderabad. Book a consultation or call us at +91 98480 00098.
