Frozen Shoulder
Frozen Shoulder Treatment in Southwest Ohio
Orthopedic Care for a Stiff, Painful Shoulder in SW Ohio
Persistent shoulder stiffness can make even simple movements challenging. Reaching into a cabinet, getting dressed, fastening a seat belt, or lifting your arm overhead may become increasingly difficult when you have frozen shoulder.
Also known as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder causes pain and progressive loss of shoulder movement. While symptoms can develop gradually, the condition can significantly interfere with everyday activities.
Orthopedic Associates provides frozen shoulder treatment in Southwest Ohio for patients experiencing ongoing shoulder pain, stiffness, and restricted range of motion. Our orthopedic specialists can evaluate your shoulder, identify the source of your symptoms, and recommend a treatment plan focused on restoring comfortable movement.
What Is Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder occurs when the tissues surrounding the shoulder joint become thickened and tight. This limits how freely the shoulder can move and can lead to significant stiffness.
The condition typically progresses gradually. Patients may first notice increasing shoulder pain followed by worsening stiffness and difficulty moving the arm. Over time, pain may decrease while limited mobility remains before the shoulder gradually begins to improve.
A frozen shoulder can affect both active movement—when you move your own arm—and passive movement, when someone else attempts to move the shoulder.
Because other orthopedic conditions can also cause shoulder pain or limited mobility, an evaluation can help determine whether adhesive capsulitis or another shoulder problem is responsible for your symptoms.
Frozen Shoulder Treatment
Treatment for frozen shoulder is focused on relieving pain and gradually restoring shoulder mobility. Your orthopedic specialist will consider your symptoms, range of motion, overall health, and how significantly the condition affects your daily activities when developing a care plan.
If shoulder stiffness is making routine activities increasingly difficult, you do not have to simply wait for it to improve. Orthopedic Associates provides personalized evaluation and treatment for frozen shoulder and other shoulder conditions throughout Southwest Ohio.
Orthopedic Associates surgeons treat all shoulder conditions
- Arthritis of the Shoulder
- Shoulder Replacement
- Biceps Tendon Tear at the Shoulder
- Shoulder Bursitis
- Chronic Shoulder Instability
- Clavicle Fracture (Broken Collarbone)
- Common Shoulder Injuries
- Fracture of the Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Frozen Shoulder
- Rotator Cuff Injures and Tears
- Shoulder Dislocation
- Shoulder Impingement/Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
- Shoulder Injuries in the Throwing Athlete
- Shoulder Joint Tear (Glenoid Labrum Tear)
- Shoulder Separation
- Shoulder Trauma (Fractures and Dislocations)
Osteoporosis Information
If you’ve recently experience a break or over the age of 55, contact our Osteoporosis Clinic to be screened for bone loss to help prevent future breaks
Frozen Shoulder FAQs
What are the symptoms of frozen shoulder?
The most recognizable symptoms are shoulder pain, stiffness, and a progressively limited range of motion. You may have trouble reaching overhead, behind your back, or away from your body.
Why is frozen shoulder also called adhesive capsulitis?
Adhesive capsulitis is the medical term for frozen shoulder. It refers to changes in the tissues surrounding the shoulder joint that cause the joint to become increasingly stiff and difficult to move.
Does frozen shoulder develop suddenly?
Frozen shoulder commonly develops gradually. Pain may appear first, followed by increasing stiffness and loss of shoulder mobility.
How is frozen shoulder different from a rotator cuff injury?
Both conditions can cause shoulder pain and difficulty using the arm. Frozen shoulder is particularly associated with significant restriction in shoulder movement, while rotator cuff injuries may cause pain and weakness. An orthopedic evaluation can help distinguish between them.
Can frozen shoulder affect everyday activities?
Yes. Limited shoulder mobility can make dressing, bathing, reaching into cabinets, driving, sleeping comfortably, and other routine activities more challenging.
How is frozen shoulder diagnosed?
A shoulder specialist will review your symptoms and evaluate your shoulder’s range of motion and function. Because arthritis, rotator cuff problems, and other conditions can produce similar symptoms, determining the underlying cause is important before beginning treatment.
When should I see an orthopedic specialist for a stiff shoulder?
Consider an evaluation when shoulder pain or stiffness persists, your range of motion continues to decrease, or the problem interferes with normal activities.
Where can I find frozen shoulder treatment in Southwest Ohio?
Orthopedic Associates provides evaluation and treatment for frozen shoulder and other shoulder conditions throughout Southwest Ohio. Our team works with patients to identify the cause of shoulder pain and stiffness and develop an individualized plan designed to improve mobility and function.
