Learn more about Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder usually develops gradually and gets progressively worse, but without treatment the effects can become permanent.

What is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder is another name for the medical condition known as Adhesive Capsulitis. As the name suggests, frozen shoulder occurs when the shoulder capsule (a ligament that surrounds the shoulder joint) adheres too tightly to the joint. This freezes or restricts the movement of the shoulder joint, causing stiffness, pain and in some cases an inability to move the shoulder.

Three Stages of Frozen Shoulder

There are three main stages of Frozen Shoulder. All cases will go through each phase, but the duration and severity of each phase depend on whether or not treatment is being performed. The typical course of frozen shoulder can last anywhere between 6 months and 3 years.

Treatment for Frozen shoulder can be performed during all phases, but the outcomes are improved if treatment begins during the freezing phase.

01

Freezing

Shoulder pain is often felt at night, and an individual will notice that their shoulder is feeling more stiff than normal. As this phase worsens, pain is felt during the day and people will complain of pain during most movements (getting dressed, reaching into cupboards, lifting heavy objects, eating, etc).

02

Frozen

This phase can last 6 months or more, and is characterized by extreme stiffness and loss of movement of the shoulder joint. Pain is generally less during this phase, compared to the Freezing phase.

03

Thawing

As the capsule starts ‘unstick’ from the joint, more movement can be performed with less pain.

Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder is characterized by:

Pain and stiffness

Decreased range of motion of the shoulder

Dull and aching pain

Sharp pain with certain movements

With frozen shoulder, the primary movements of the shoulder that are affected are:

External rotation

Internal rotation

Abduction (lifting the arm away from the body)

Flexion

What causes Frozen Shoulder?

The exact reason for the development of this condition is not well understood by the physicians and researchers. The only two identifiable causes thus far are:

5Having a condition that reduces the mobility of your arm: stroke, mastectomy, recovering from surgery, rotator cuff injury, arm fracture, etc.
5Individuals between the ages of 40 and 60 are more likely to develop frozen shoulder, with women being the most affected.
5Diabetes

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Prevention

The best way to prevent a frozen shoulder from occurring is maintaining an active lifestyle, managing any systemic conditions (ex; diabetes), and ensuring you are following a range of motion/stretching program for your shoulders and upper extremities following an injury or surgery.

How can physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapy is the primary method of treating frozen shoulder. Manual therapy and modalities for pain are utilized to maintain the function of the shoulder during the Freezing and Frozen phases, and helps people to regain mobility of their arm in the Thawing phase.

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Treatment will include in-clinic manual therapy sessions as well as the prescription of an extensive home exercise program. With regular and frequent intervention, frozen shoulder symptoms can often be well managed.

Additional treatment modalities can be used during physiotherapy sessions including acupuncture, heat and ultrasound therapy.

Why choose Pillars of Wellness?

At Pillars of Wellness, in Burlington, Ontario, we are proud to provide a truly integrated care approach that employs a variety of treatments to achieve a faster recovery. Our clinic offers various services such as physiotherapy, chiropractic, naturopathy, counselling, occupational therapy, yoga therapy, acupuncture, and holistic nutrition.

With multiple services and specialties in one place, you’ll get the best care possible — without having to look elsewhere. Pillars of Wellness is your one-stop-health solution, located right here in Burlington.

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Flexibility and accommodation to make your appointment viable and fit to your schedule

Highly recommended for everyone who is looking for friendly, warm and very professional help in physiotherapy. Flexibility and accommodation to make your appointment viable and fit to your schedule. Warm, new and clean environment going very well together with informative and friendly, professional personnel. My therapy clinical notes, invoices and appointment reminders were also available on line and on time. Khizar, Nancy, Thank you.

Feeling better by the day. Thank you so much!

This is the first time I give a review. I cannot say enough about this clinic. They are really amazing. Friendly, great customer service and helped me with a condition I have for years. Feeling better by the day. Thank you so much!

I was very impressed by their customer service and professionalism

I recently used Pillars of Wellness services for my injuries. I was very impressed by their customer service and professionalism. The first time I came to do my assessment, the owner, the physiotherapist and the chiropractor sat with me to help me figure out the best way to feel better and faster. I spent 6 weeks with on-going treatment using different modalities. The end result was no more pain and I was able to move again!! Thank you so much for your help. I highly recommend this clinic to anyone.

Summing it up Pillars of Wellness is a well run top notch health clinic!

Lori and Laurent Pinci who run Pillars of Wellness along with their team are very professional and efficient. They make you feel welcome with a smile and kind words every time you walk through their doors. They truly care. We have not yet had the need to experience the many other services that Pillars of Wellness offers, but if we ever did, we definitely would not hesitate to use them.

I’m feeling very supported during my recovery….

On the advice of a friend, I reached out and booked a series of appointments with their occupational therapist, Lori; physiotherapist, Abida; and their naturopath, Dr. Galantai to help with recovering from a concussion. It has been an excellent experience! They are all incredible practitioners.

This is the first time I’ve ever experienced a longer term injury and their genuine, individualized care has really lessened my stress. I’m feeling very supported during my recovery and highly recommend their clinic. I credit my continual improvement to the holistic way I’m getting treatment for my symptoms and am very grateful.

I went to different clinics I finally found one worth going to.

Friendly, caring and professionals like nothing I have seen around Aldershot//Burlington. Attentive to the needs of their patients. They take the time to listen. Beautiful and well designed clinic that is extremely well maintained. I have had two car accidents in the last year and I went to different clinics I finally found one worth going to.

Frozen Shoulder Treatment