Shoulder
Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
Also called: Stiff shoulder
The shoulder capsule inflames and contracts, producing a signature story in stages: freezing (pain dominant, months), frozen (stiffness dominant), thawing (gradual return). More common in women 40–60 and notably in diabetes and thyroid conditions. Self-limited but long (often 1–2 years) — good care shortens and softens the arc.
Common signs
- Progressive shoulder pain then marked stiffness in all directions
- External rotation lost first and worst (can't turn the arm outward, as when reaching back for a coat sleeve)
- Night pain in the early phase
- Both active AND passive motion limited (the diagnostic key)
Seek help now if
- Fever or systemic symptoms with a stiff painful shoulder
- History of cancer
- Trauma preceding it (assess for other injury)
If any of these is sudden or severe, call 911 or go to an emergency room. For the others, get examined before you start self-care.
What to do first
- Get diagnosed properly — frozen shoulder is over- and under-diagnosed; the passive-motion exam is decisive
- Check the metabolic context: screen blood sugar and thyroid if not recently done
- Match care to the phase: pain phase favors gentle motion and calming; stiffness phase earns progressively assertive stretching
The longer road
- Consistent home stretching within the program is the engine of thawing — daily beats heroic
- Stubborn or severely function-limiting cases have escalation options (hydrodilatation, injection) alongside continued rehab
- The other shoulder carries some future risk — early attention if it starts
Natural healing options we use
- Phase-matched joint mobilization and stretching program
- Manual therapy for guarding musculature
- Chiropractic care for neck, upper-back, and shoulder-blade mechanics
- Attended e-stim and PEMF for the painful phase; blood-sugar-conscious nutrition
About imaging
Clinical diagnosis; imaging mainly excludes mimics (X-ray to rule out arthritis, which limits motion similarly).
Daily self-care
- Daily home stretching doses (multiple short sessions)
- Heat before stretching
- Patience with the arc — track monthly range, not daily pain
How we can help
PEMF Therapy
Learn more →Assisted & Resistance Stretching
Learn more →Massage & Soft-Tissue Therapy
Learn more →Chiropractic Adjustments
Learn more →Neuro-Electrical Stimulation
Learn more →Keep working on it at home
Once you have been examined and cleared to load it, these free home programs cover this part of the body.
More in Shoulder
Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy & ImpingementRotator Cuff TearAC Joint SprainShoulder Instability & DislocationShoulder Labral TearBiceps TendinopathyShoulder OsteoarthritisScapular Dyskinesis
Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.