
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterized by stiffness and pain in your shoulder joint. Signs and symptoms typically begin gradually, worsen over time and then resolve, usually within one to three years.
The condition occurs more commonly in people with diabetes and in people who’ve kept their arm immobilized for a long period of time. Frozen shoulder occurs when the strong connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint (called the shoulder joint capsule) becomes thick, stiff, and inflamed. (The joint capsule contains the ligaments that attach the top of the upper arm bone [humeral head] to the shoulder socket [glenoid], firmly holding the joint in place. This is more commonly known as the “ball and socket” joint.)
The condition is called a “frozen” shoulder because the more pain that is felt, the less likely the shoulder will be used. Lack of use causes the shoulder capsule to thicken and becomes tight, making the shoulder even more difficult to move — it is “frozen” in its position.
Your risk of developing frozen shoulder increases if you’re recovering from a medical condition or procedure that prevents you from moving your arms — such as a stroke or a mastectomy.
Treatment for frozen shoulder involves range-of-motion exercises and, sometimes, corticosteroids and numbing medications injected into the joint capsule. In a small percentage of cases, arthroscopic surgery may be indicated to loosen the joint capsule so that it can move more freely.
It’s unusual for a frozen shoulder to recur in the same shoulder, but some people can develop it in the opposite shoulder.
Athletes and Frozen Shoulder
Older athletes are more prone to suffer from frozen shoulder syndrome, also referred to as adhesive capsulitis, than their younger counterparts. Individuals between the ages of 40 and 60 comprise the majority of those diagnosed with this injury, with women more prone than men.
- Tennis. Tennis requires a lot from your shoulder. …
- Baseball and softball. Baseball and softball pitchers are at increased risk of shoulder injury due to the repetitive throwing motion. …
- Swimming. …
- Football. …
- Volleyball. …
- Handball
- Lie flat on the back, extend the arms and legs, and engage the abdominal muscles.
- Reach one arm toward the ceiling, lifting it until the shoulder blade comes off the floor.
- Hold for 5 seconds.
- Return arm to the floor.
- Repeat on the other side.
If you play a high-risk sport, take steps to lessen your chances of injuring your shoulder. Always wear appropriate safety equipment. Do your best to perform swings, throws, strokes, and spikes with proper form, which can help prevent injury. Enlist in a strengthening program that helps all of the muscles of the shoulder, not just the ones that you use on a regular basis to perform your sport.
If you do experience shoulder pain, stop doing the movements that aggravate it and contact Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists. The sooner you address a shoulder injury, the better chance you have for a minimally invasive remedy and rehabilitation. Physical therapy, medications, rest, and, in extreme cases, surgery are all methods used to repair an injured shoulder.
How long frozen shoulder lasts
Frozen shoulder can take at least 1.5 to 2 years to get better. Sometimes it can be up to 5 years.
But the pain and stiffness will usually go away eventually.
Increased, or prolonged levels of stress or anxiety also are a source of inflammation. We are aware that tension gathers in our shoulders and causes tightness. Therefore, sustained stress or anxiety may also lead to a frozen shoulder.
- One Position is lying on the unaffected side and hugging on a pillow or cushion.
- For People who sleep on their backs all night, it is helpful to place a pillow behind the back to prevent accidental rolling over onto a frozen shoulder arm.
You should use your affected arm
In fact, medical professionals say that resting the shoulder may make the condition worse by allowing more adhesions to develop around the shoulder capsule. In addition, using the shoulder helps maintain muscle strength, which can prevent additional problems later on.

Symptoms
Frozen shoulder typically develops slowly, and in three stages. Each stage can last a number of months.
- Freezing stage. Any movement of your shoulder causes pain, and your shoulder’s range of motion starts to become limited.
- Frozen stage. Pain may begin to diminish during this stage. However, your shoulder becomes stiffer, and using it becomes more difficult.
- Thawing stage. The range of motion in your shoulder begins to improve.
For some people, the pain worsens at night, sometimes
Causes
The bones, ligaments, and tendons that make up your shoulder joint are encased in a capsule of connective tissue. Frozen shoulder occurs when this capsule thickens and tightens around the shoulder joint, restricting its movement.
Doctors aren’t sure why this happens to some people, although it’s more likely to occur in people who have diabetes or those who recently had to immobilize their shoulder for a long period, such as after surgery or an arm fracture.
Risk factors
Certain factors may increase your risk of developing a frozen shoulder.
Age and sex
People 40 and older, particularly women, are more likely to have frozen shoulders.
Immobility or reduced mobility
People who’ve had prolonged immobility or reduced mobility of the shoulder are at higher risk of developing a frozen shoulder. Immobility may be the result of many factors, including:
- Rotator cuff injury
- Broken arm
- Stroke
- Recovery from surgery
Systemic diseases
People who have certain diseases appear more likely to develop frozen shoulders. Diseases that might increase risk include:
- Diabetes
- Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
- Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- Cardiovascular disease
- Tuberculosis
- Parkinson’s disease
Prevention
One of the most common causes of frozen shoulder is the immobility that may result during recovery from a shoulder injury, broken arm, or a stroke. If you’ve had an injury that makes it difficult to move your shoulder, talk to your doctor about exercises you can do to maintain the range of motion in your shoulder joint.
- One Position is lying on the unaffected side and hugging on a pillow or cushion. …
- For People who sleep on their backs all night, it is helpful to place a pillow behind the back to prevent accidental rolling over onto a frozen shoulder arm.
Massage for a Frozen Shoulder
Exercises for Frozen Shoulder
- Pendulum stretch. Do this exercise first. …
- Towel stretch. Hold one end of a three-foot-long towel behind your back and grab the opposite end with your other hand. …
- Finger walk. …
- Cross-body reach. …
- Armpit stretch. …
- Outward rotation. …
- Inward rotation.
Always warm up your shoulder before performing your frozen shoulder exercises. The best way to do that is to take a warm shower or bath for 10 to 15 minutes. You can also use a moist heating pad or a damp towel heated in the microwave, but it may not be as effective.
In performing the following frozen shoulder exercises, stretch to the point of tension but not pain.


1. Pendulum stretch
Do this exercise first. Relax your shoulders. Stand and lean over slightly, allowing the affected arm to hang down. Swing the arm in a small circle — about a foot in diameter. Perform 10 revolutions in each direction, once a day. As your symptoms improve, increase the diameter of your swing, but never force it. When you’re ready for more, increase the stretch by holding a lightweight (three to five pounds) in the swinging arm.
2. Towel stretch
Hold one end of a three-foot-long towel behind your back and grab the opposite end with your other hand. Hold the towel in a horizontal position. Use your good arm to pull the affected arm upward to stretch it. You can also do an advanced version of this exercise with the towel draped over your good shoulder. Hold the bottom of the towel with the affected arm and pull it toward the lower back with the unaffected arm. Do this 10 to 20 times a day.
3. Finger walk
Face wall three-quarters of an arm’s length away. Reach out and touch the wall at waist level with the fingertips of the affected arm. With your elbow slightly bent, slowly walk your fingers up the wall, spider-like, until you’ve raised your arm as far as you comfortably can. Your fingers should be doing the work, not your shoulder muscles. Slowly lower the arm (with the help of the good arm, if necessary) and repeat. Perform this exercise 10 to 20 times a day.
4. Cross-body reach
Sit or stand. Use your good arm to lift your affected arm at the elbow, and bring it up and across your body, exerting gentle pressure to stretch the shoulder. Hold the stretch for 15 to 20 seconds. Do this 10 to 20 times per day.
5. Armpit stretch
Using your good arm, lift the affected arm onto a shelf about breast-high. Gently bend your knees, opening up the armpit. Deepen your knee bend slightly, gently stretching the armpit, and then straighten. With each knee bend, stretch a little further, but don’t force it. Do this 10 to 20 times each day.
Starting to strengthen
As your range of motion improves, add rotator cuff–strengthening exercises. Be sure to warm up your shoulder and do your stretching exercises before you perform strengthening exercises.
6. Outward rotation
Hold a rubber exercise band between your hands with your elbows at a 90-degree angle close to your sides. Rotate the lower part of the affected arm outward two or three inches and hold for five seconds. Repeat 10 to 15 times, once a day.
7. Inward rotation
Stand next to a closed door, and hook one end of a rubber exercise band around the doorknob. Hold the other end with the hand of the affected arm, holding your elbow at a 90-degree angle. Pull the band toward your body two or three inches and hold for five seconds. Repeat 10 to 15 times, once a day.
more info at: https://www.hyderabadshoulderclinic.com/how-should-i-sleep-with-frozen-shoulder-pain/https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15359-frozen-shoulder

*Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.
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