Frozen shoulder occurs when the capsule of connective tissue that surrounds the shoulder thickens and contracts, leading to stiffness and pain from restricted movement.
Causes of frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder generally affects adults ages 40 to 60 and can be caused by conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Parkinson’s, or cardiac disease. It can also result from immobilizing the shoulder too long after an injury, which is why a vital part of any shoulder recovery is physical therapy.
What are the symptoms?
Frozen shoulder may cause any of the symptoms below, which warrant a visit to a specialist:
- Shoulder pain
- Limited range of motion in the shoulder
- Feeling that shoulder is “stuck” in place
- Soreness
- Stiffness
How is it diagnosed?
The orthopedic physicians at MedStar Health are experts at diagnosing the full range of shoulder problems. An initial exam may include:
- Medical history evaluation: Your orthopedist will ask you questions about when your pain began, whether it affects one or both shoulders, and when the pain feels most severe. Other questions may be about previous injuries, whether you have other medical problems, and if you take any medications
- Physical exam: Your orthopedist will examine your shoulder and arm to evaluate your pain, strength, and range of motion
- Imaging tests: Your doctor may want to examine the bones and joints surrounding the shoulder using X-rays
Frozen shoulder treatment
Physicians typically treat this condition with anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy, which is successful in 90 percent of cases. For those who don't experience relief after physical therapy, surgical procedures are available to help regain motion.
Our providers
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Shoulder and Elbow Orthopedic Surgery
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Ryan A Hoffman, MD
Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery
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Ryan M Jander, MD
Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery & Hand Surgery
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Anand Murugan Murthi, MD
Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery
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Jason Andrew Stein, MD
Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery
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Brent Wiesel, MD
Shoulder And Elbow Orthopedic Surgery
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Christopher Lee Forthman, MD
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Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Evan Henry Argintar, MD
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Emmanuel Asare O Atiemo, MD
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Vestinia Madonna Bridges, MD
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Emily T. Cha, MD
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Leigh Ann Curl, MD
Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Wiemi Abell Douoguih, MD
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James C. Dreese, MD
Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Jason Wilson Hammond, MD
Sports Medicine, Orthopedic Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery
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Richard Yarborough Hinton, MD
Pediatric Sports Medicine, Shoulder Orthopedic Surgery, Knee Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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John Anthony Kuri, MD
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Richard Gary Levine, MD
Knee Orthopedic Surgery, Shoulder Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Christopher Alan Looze, MBBS
Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Milford Howarth Marchant, MD
Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Sports Medicine & Sports Medicine
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Carter Wallace Mitchell, MD
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Steven James Svoboda, MD
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
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Melissa Ann Yadao, MD
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
Orthopedic Surgery
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Brock William Adams, MD
Orthopedic Surgery & Orthopedic Oncology
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Henry Robert Boucher, MD
Hip And Knee Orthopedic Surgery & Orthopedic Surgery
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David Larry Gold, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Jason Wilson Hammond, MD
Sports Medicine, Orthopedic Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery
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Bruce Knolmayer, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Milford Howarth Marchant, MD
Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Sports Medicine & Sports Medicine
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Stephen Theodore Michaels, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Edward C Rabbitt, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Thomas Milleret Ring, MD
Knee Orthopedic Surgery, Hip Orthopedic Surgery, Hip And Knee Orthopedic Surgery & Orthopedic Surgery
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Ira Dean Gelb, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Sanjog K. Mathur, MBBS
Orthopedic Surgery
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Charles Francis Mess, Jr., MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Megan Rose Miles, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Michael Timothy Travis, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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William Robert Volk, MD
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Bo Zhang, MD
Orthopedic Surgery