It is a painful condition with loss of motion in the shoulder. It may be due to an injury to the shoulder but may also arise gradually or spontaneously.

It occurs due to inflammation to the joint in which joint fluid thickens and capsule contracts, so thereby causing pain on movement. It is quite a common now a days as people have ceased to do various movements like spinning, drawing water from well, weaving a handloom, cutting fodder, grinding wheat which involved rotational activities. Indulging in certain sports activities like badminton, tennis, cricket also prevent the occurrence of the condition. Patient suffering from Diabetes, thyroid are more prone to frozen shouldres.

SYMPTOMS:-

Difficulty in lifting arm above head. pain in arm, inability to sleep on affected side, reaching behind back, combing hair. Signs and Symptoms of frozen shoulder develop gradually, usually in three stages in which signs and symptoms worsen gradually and resolve within a two year period.

There are three stages of frozen shoulder:

• Painful stage : The shoulder becomes stiff and then very painful with movement.Movement becomes limited. Pain typically worsens at night.
• Frozen/Adhesive Stage : The shoulder become increasingly stiff, severely limiting range of motion. Pain may not diminish, but does not usually worsen.
• Thawing Stage : Movement in the shoulderbegins to improve. Pain may fade, but occasionally recure.
  

HOW TO TREAT IT

Improvement on treatment is very slow and frustrating. Most cases improve eventually but may take months. Treatment should be started at the earliest.

• Analgesics : Most common used analgesics are Paracetamol, Nimuslide, Brufen, Tramadol, Coxibs etc. Muscle relaxants may have some role.
• Injection of steroids : It gives long acting relief. it has no side effects like oral corticosteroids.
• Manipulation : It decreases pain and increases range of motion. Stretching and strengthing exercises. Shoulder shrugging, Wall walk, External/Internal rotation, Shoulder flexion, Pulling exercises, Band exercises etc.
• Physiotherapy : I.F.T., TENS & HOT Fomentation are useful.