Frozen Shoulder

Overview

Frozen shoulder is a condition that results in loss of movement and/or stiffness of the arm at the shoulder joint. There is usually pain in the shoulder, and it is caused by tightening of the tissues that surround the shoulder joint.

In frozen shoulder:

Active range of motion is lost. This means you cannot move your arm.
Passive range of motion is lost. This means another person trying to move your arm at the shoulder joint will find it stiff and difficult to move.

Frozen shoulder is progressive, meaning that it gets worse over time. It also may improve spontaneously. This improvement in mobility is called thawing.

Risk factors that increase your chances of developing frozen shoulder include:

diabetes
thyroid problems
disc problems in your neck
injuries
illness or injury that forces you to be immobile for a period of time
tuberculosis
heart disease and/or lung disease

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