What is frozen shoulder?

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.

How to tell if you have frozen shoulder?

There is an injection test that can help determine whether or not you do have frozen shoulder. The test involves injecting an anesthetic into the shoulder. In people with frozen shoulder, the anesthetic will not improve mobility, whereas in people with other shoulder problems, mobility will be improved.

Signs of a frozen shoulder:

The most typical signs of this condition are severe pain and being unable to move your shoulder — either on your own or with the help of someone else. Frozen shoulder develops in three stages: freezing, frozen, and thawing. In the freezing” stage, the pain slowly becomes more painful and as this happens you simultaneously loose range of motion. This stage can last anywhere from 6 weeks to 9 months. In the frozen stage, the stiffness remains, however, pain may actually begin to slightly improve. During the 4 to 6 months of the “frozen” stage, daily activities may be very difficult. The final stage is the “thawing” stage. During this stage shoulder motion begins to slowly improve. However, it could take from 6 months to 2 years to return to normal strength and motion.

For additional information, you can contact California Sports and Rehab Center. We can accommodate your needs in multiple locations in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Please visit us at https://emg-ncv.com or call our office at (310)-652-6060 for any questions.