Overview
Frozen shoulder is progressive pain and stiffness of the shoulder as its capsule tightens, until simple acts — fastening clothes, reaching a shelf — become difficult. It is more common in people with diabetes and after periods of shoulder immobility. It does resolve, but recovery takes months and is much faster with structured physiotherapy.
Symptoms
- Shoulder pain, often worse at night
- Progressive stiffness in all directions
- Difficulty reaching overhead, behind the back or across the body
- Pain on lying on the affected side
- Stages: painful freezing, stiff frozen, then gradual thawing
Causes & risk factors
- Inflammation and tightening of the shoulder capsule
- Diabetes and thyroid disease increase risk
- Immobility after injury, surgery or a stroke
- Age 40-60; more common in women
Treatment & self-care
Physiotherapy is the backbone: graded stretching and mobilisation within tolerable pain, plus a home exercise routine done daily. Doctors can add anti-inflammatory treatment or a steroid injection to break the pain cycle, and resistant cases have procedural options. Keep the shoulder gently moving — complete rest worsens the stiffness.
See a doctor urgently if
- Shoulder pain and stiffness persisting beyond a few weeks
- Inability to raise the arm after a fall (rule out tear or fracture)
- Shoulder pain with fever
- You are diabetic with a stiffening shoulder