My shoulder has been painful for over a year. It has become more and more difficult to move it, and I can hardly comb my hair or buckle my seatbelt. My doctor told me I have "frozen shoulder". What is this and how can physical therapy help?

A frozen shoulder is the result of the shoulder joint capsule contracting and scar tissue forming, which creates restricted movement. Most of the time there is no known cause. Frozen shoulder occurs twice as frequently in women as men, most commonly between the ages of 40 to 60. Other contributing factors can be thyroid problems, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, and immobilization of the shoulder after injury or surgery. Physical therapy's primary goal is to restore motion and good biomechanics of the shoulder. This requires mobilizing the joint, stretching the capsule and surrounding tissues (ligaments, tendons, muscles), strengthening the important muscles (rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers), and making sure the client also has good core strength for long-term success. With the right intervention, your frozen shoulder can be "thawed"!

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