Move Empower Concierge Physical Therapy Austin TX
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Woman holds her shoulder in pain, suffering from frozen shoulder before contacting an Austin physical therapist

Part One, What Causes Sudden Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that causes stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. Over time, the shoulder becomes very hard to move. Understanding what causes this sudden onset can help you seek the right treatment and get back to your normal activities.

 

What Exactly Is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder is when the shoulder joint becomes painful and stiff. The shoulder has a capsule of connective tissue that surrounds the joint. When this capsule thickens and tightens, it restricts movement and causes pain. Basically, your shoulder cannot be moved and seems frozen in place, hence the name. There are three stages of frozen shoulder:

  1. Freezing Stage: In this stage, any movement of your shoulder causes pain, and your shoulder’s range of motion starts to become limited.
  2. Frozen Stage: Pain may begin to diminish during this stage, but your shoulder becomes stiffer, and using it becomes more difficult.
  3. Thawing Stage: The range of motion in your shoulder begins to improve.

The entire process can take several months to years. If this issue is not addressed with something such as physical therapy, then it will continue to worsen as time goes on causing more pain and less movement for prolonged periods of time. This means if at first you notice these issues but they only last a few minutes, it can eventually change into hours at a time that you suffer these symptoms.

 

What Causes Frozen Shoulder?

The exact cause of frozen shoulder is not fully understood, but several factors can increase the risk of developing it. Here are some of the main causes:

  1. Immobilization: One of the most common causes of frozen shoulder is immobility due to a recent injury, surgery, or other health conditions. If you’ve had to keep your shoulder still for a long period, the lack of movement can lead to stiffness.
  2. Diabetes: People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing frozen shoulder. The reason for this connection is unclear, but it’s thought that high blood sugar levels can affect the connective tissues.
  3. Other Medical Conditions: Certain conditions, such as thyroid disorders, cardiovascular disease, and Parkinson’s disease, can also increase the risk of frozen shoulder.
  4. Age and Gender: Frozen shoulder most commonly affects people between the ages of 40 and 60 and is more prevalent in women than men.
  5. Inflammation: Sometimes, frozen shoulder can start after inflammation due to other shoulder problems like rotator cuff tendinitis or bursitis. The inflammation can cause the capsule to thicken and tighten around the shoulder joint.

It can also be caused by your repetitive movements. If you consistently play tennis and are putting excessive strain on your shoulder, this too can lead to sudden frozen shoulder problems.

 

How Is Frozen Shoulder Diagnosed?

If you have symptoms of frozen shoulder, your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms and medical history. They may also conduct imaging tests like X-rays or MRI to rule out other problems such as a rotator cuff tear or arthritis.

 

A physical therapist can also diagnose this issue through a discovery session. They will ask you to describe your pain and work through your range of motion to determine what is causing you problems. From there, they can create a customized treatment plan for you.

 

It’s important to work with a medical professional so that you can understand the root cause of your pain. It might seem easy to say, “Oh, my shoulder feels tight like I can’t move it, it must be a frozen shoulder!” however, a medical professional can tell the difference between a frozen shoulder and tendinopathy, which has to be addressed with different treatment options.

 

Treatment for Frozen Shoulder

Treatment for frozen shoulder often begins with self-care measures and progresses to more intensive treatments if necessary. Here are some common treatment options:

  1. Steroid Injections: An injection of a corticosteroid medication into your shoulder joint can help reduce pain and improve shoulder mobility.  Injections are most useful if performed during the earlier stages of Frozen shoulder, when an inflammation is most often present.
  2. Shoulder Manipulation: Under general anesthesia, your doctor may manipulate your shoulder to loosen the tightened tissue. This is done in severe cases where other treatments have not worked.
  3. Surgery: If other treatments don’t help, surgery might be an option. During surgery, a doctor will remove the scar tissue and adhesions from inside your shoulder joint.
  4. Physical Therapy: And last but not least, physical therapy can be used to treat this issue. In fact, physical therapy is one of the most effective treatments for a frozen shoulder. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to help maintain as much mobility in your shoulder as possible. The other treatments listed above are really more than just bandaids for the problem. They can offer temporary relief, but long-term relief comes from sticking with physical therapy exercises that loosen your shoulder and strengthen it at the same time to prevent future freezing episodes.
 

Home Remedies for Frozen Shoulder

At Move Empower Concierge Physical Therapy, we understand that you want long-term relief with non-invasive treatments which is why our specialist physical therapists are trained in handling the onset of sudden frozen shoulder. While we recommend reaching out to a PT as soon you as notice these problems, you can also do some activities at home to lessen your pain if these symptoms are brand new to you:

  1. Heat and Cold Therapy: Applying heat or cold packs to your shoulder can help reduce pain and swelling. 
  2. Stretching Exercises: Gentle stretching exercises can help improve your range of motion. Your physical therapist can show you the best stretches for your condition. Stay tuned as the founder of Move Empower Concierge PT, Eric Finger, is getting ready to publish a helpful video on how to do these stretches.
  3. Pain Relievers: Over-the-counter pain relievers can help reduce pain and inflammation. However, do not become dependent on these as long-term over-use can be bad for your health.
  4. Maintain Activity: Even if it’s painful, try to keep your shoulder as mobile as possible. Immobilizing it can make the condition worse. However, do not push yourself too far. It’s best to talk to a specialist PT to learn what exercises are best to do for your shoulder.

Remember, if at any point your pain gets worse, stop what you are doing and contact a physical therapist.

Woman applies ice to frozen shoulder symptoms as advised by a Texas physical therapist

Preventing Frozen Shoulder

While it might not always be possible to prevent frozen shoulder, especially if it’s related to other medical conditions, there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk:

  1. Stay Active: Regular physical activity can help keep your shoulder joints healthy. If you have a desk job, try to take breaks to stretch and move around. Don’t overdo it, though. Stretch before doing heavy physical activity like pickle ball. Be sure to do cool down stretches too after you are done.
  2. Manage Underlying Conditions: If you have diabetes or another condition that increases your risk of frozen shoulder, work with your doctor to manage it effectively. If you are having a flare up that you know will lead to sudden frozen shoulder, work on the stretches your physical therapist has given you to do.
  3. Gradual Return to Activity: After an injury or surgery, gradually return to your normal activities to avoid overstraining your shoulder. Start with low levels of activity. If you like to play tennis, do a couple of swings and stop for the day. Repeat this as your tolerance builds up. Don’t try to just jump back into something when your shoulder returns to normal as this will trigger it again.


Even if you have not experienced a sudden frozen shoulder, it is still a good idea to talk to a physical therapist if you know you have conditions that might lead to it or if you participate in sports that are heavily reliant upon your shoulders from tennis to rock climbing to kayaking.

 

When to Seek Medical Help

If you experience shoulder pain or stiffness that doesn’t go away on its own, it’s important to see a physical therapist. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent frozen shoulder from getting worse and can improve your chances of a full recovery. You should always see a physical therapist as soon as you notice any sort of changes like this to prevent further injury. However, if you just went kayaking for the first time and your shoulder feels stiff, you do not necessarily need to seek treatment as your body is just not used to that type of motion. 

 

On the other hand, if you are an avid kayaker and you notice something wrong with your shoulder — it can be tightness, tenderness, or even just noticing something is off inside your body — contact one of our expert physical therapists for help. Keep in mind that pain is not always the first symptom and may only happen on the severe end of injury — muscle tightness is enough to indicate something is not quite right.

 

Frozen shoulder can be a painful and frustrating condition, but with the right treatment and self-care, you can regain your shoulder mobility and reduce pain. If you have symptoms of frozen shoulder, don’t hesitate to seek medical advice. Physical therapy can help you get back to your normal activities and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

 

Remember, early intervention is key to managing frozen shoulder effectively. If you notice any signs of shoulder stiffness or pain, schedule a FREE discovery session with our team.