Health Corner

1. What is frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, commonly occurs in people aged 40 to 60, with women more frequently affected. Recently, younger people have also started experiencing it.
Frozen shoulder typically progresses through three stages: the painful stage, the stiff stage, and the recovery stage.

• Painful stage: considered the early phase, patients feel shoulder pain, especially worse at night or with shoulder movement. The range of shoulder movement gradually decreases, affecting daily life.

• Stiff stage: pain decreases but shoulder movement is severely limited. The joint becomes stiffer, making basic actions like raising the arm, dressing, combing hair, or lifting objects difficult.

• Recovery stage: shoulder joint becomes more flexible and pain reduces. Patients can speed recovery with physical therapy and appropriate exercise.

2. What causes frozen shoulder?

• Decreased joint fluid and increased stiffness of the shoulder ligaments and joint capsule due to aging

• Overuse or injuries like falls or heavy lifting

• Inflammation of tissues around the shoulder joint

• Poor posture for extended periods, especially prolonged forward shoulder lean when using computers, causing muscle and ligament tightness

• Lack of shoulder exercise and stretching

3. Will frozen shoulder recover on its own? Can it be ignored?
Frozen shoulder can last from several months to years and typically resolves gradually on its own. But during flare-ups, pain can be severe, and limited shoulder movement can disrupt normal life. It is generally recommended to seek medical help promptly to alleviate pain and accelerate recovery. Different stages require different treatments or medications prescribed by doctors.

4. What treatments are available for frozen shoulder?
Doctors often use physical therapy like stretching exercises to restore shoulder flexibility and strength. Heat and cold therapy also help reduce pain. Patients should do home exercises to maintain shoulder mobility. Based on severity, doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication or corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation. In severe cases, arthroscopic surgery may be performed to repair or remove inflamed tissue.

If you experience prolonged shoulder stiffness and suspect frozen shoulder, see a doctor as soon as possible!