Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder, known as adhesive capsulitis, results in the loss of passive and active motion of the shoulder socket (glenohumeral joint).

At Andrews Sports Medicine, our fellowship-trained non-surgical physicians and orthopaedic surgeons who commonly diagnose and treat frozen shoulder.

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The loss of motion is due to chronic inflammation that leads to the stiffening of the soft connective tissue around the shoulder. A frozen shoulder with no known cause is labeled “primary”, but a “secondary” frozen shoulder (secondary adhesive capsulitis) can result after surgical procedures or trauma to the shoulder.

A frozen shoulder has several stages from pain with motion, loss of motion and pain at night, and then significant stiffness with minimal night pain. Anti-inflammatory drugs (like aspirin or ibuprofen) and corticosteroid injections can help treat the inflammation and pain associated with the beginning phases of a frozen shoulder. Aggressive therapy and movements to regain full range of motion with the shoulder will help relieve the stiffness.