Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterised by stiffness, loss of range of movement and pain in your shoulder joint. The exact cause is not understood, as you may develop this without a history of injury or illness.

Frozen shoulder is a common condition and more common in women between the ages of 40 and 60. You may also be at increased risk if you are diabetic, or have had a shoulder injury or any surgery which has prevented you from moving your arm, such as a stroke or a mastectomy.

Signs and symptoms typically begin gradually, worsen over time and then resolve, usually within one to three years. You may have shoulder and upper arm pain, and increasing stiffness in all movements.

You may complain of difficulty with everyday tasks such as dressing (doing up a bra or putting on a jacket), brushing hair, reaching for a seatbelt or reaching up to a high cupboard. You often have pain at night and find that you are unable to sleep on the affected side.

It’s unusual for frozen shoulder to recur in the same shoulder, but some people can develop it in the opposite shoulder.

In the treatment for frozen shoulder painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are often prescribed, alongside physiotherapy. You would be referred to Bedfordshire MSK services if you saw your GP.

We have found that having a course of osteopathy can reduce this debilitating condition with significantly decreased pain and increased range of movement within six months. This includes hand-on treatment, as well as exercise to do at home.

If you would like more information on how we can help, please get in touch by calling us on 01462 811006.