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Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis): Physical Therapy in Brooklyn

By Dr. Jack Engelberg, PT, DPT · · 4 min read

Frozen shoulder can be one of the most frustrating shoulder conditions. It often starts as a vague ache, then slowly the shoulder becomes so stiff that simple tasks like brushing your hair, fastening a bra or reaching for a seatbelt feel impossible. While frozen shoulder usually resolves over time, that time can be long, and physical therapy can help you manage pain and get motion back as efficiently as possible.

What Is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder, medically called adhesive capsulitis, is a condition in which the capsule of connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed, thickened and tight. As the capsule contracts, the shoulder loses motion in every direction, both when you try to move it yourself and when someone else tries to move it for you. That second point is one way clinicians distinguish frozen shoulder from a rotator cuff problem, where passive motion is often better preserved.

The Typical Stages

Frozen shoulder often progresses through overlapping phases:

  1. Freezing (painful) phase — pain gradually increases, often worst at night, and motion starts to decrease.
  2. Frozen (stiff) phase — pain may ease somewhat, but stiffness is at its worst.
  3. Thawing phase — motion gradually returns.

The full course can last many months and sometimes a year or more. Not everyone follows the stages neatly.

Common Symptoms

  • Deep, aching shoulder pain, sometimes into the upper arm
  • Pain with quick or unexpected movements
  • Night pain and difficulty lying on the affected side
  • Progressive loss of motion, especially turning the arm outward and reaching overhead or behind the back
  • Difficulty with dressing, grooming and reaching

Who Gets Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder can happen to anyone, but it is more common in:

  • Adults roughly 40 to 60 years old
  • Women
  • People with diabetes or thyroid conditions
  • People whose shoulder was immobilized after an injury, surgery or fracture
  • People recovering from other medical events that limited arm use, such as a stroke

Often there is no clear trigger at all.

How Physical Therapy Helps Frozen Shoulder

The right approach depends on which phase you are in. Pushing too hard during the painful phase can aggravate symptoms; being too gentle during the stiff phase can slow progress.

Evaluation

Your therapist will measure your active and passive range of motion, assess strength, rule out other shoulder or neck sources of pain, and learn what daily tasks matter most to you.

Treatment May Include

  • Pain-calming strategies in the early phase — gentle range-of-motion exercises within tolerance, positioning, and activity modification
  • Joint mobilization — hands-on techniques to gradually stretch the tight capsule
  • Progressive stretching — targeting external rotation, overhead reach and reaching behind the back as the shoulder tolerates more
  • Strengthening — for the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles so the motion you regain is usable
  • Functional training — practicing the real-life reaches you need for dressing, cooking, driving and work
  • Coordination with your physician — some people benefit from a corticosteroid injection to reduce pain, which can make therapy more productive

What You Can Do at Home

  • Move a little, often. Several short sessions of gentle exercise during the day tend to work better than one long, painful session.
  • Pendulum swings. Lean forward with your good hand on a table and let the affected arm hang and gently swing in small circles.
  • Table slides. Seated at a table, slide your hand forward on a towel, letting your body lean forward to increase the stretch.
  • Wand exercises. Use a broom handle or cane, with your good arm helping the stiff arm move.
  • Heat before stretching can make movement more comfortable.
  • Respect pain. Mild stretching discomfort that settles quickly is OK; sharp pain that lingers for hours means it was too much.

When to See a Physical Therapist

Book an evaluation if:

  • Your shoulder is becoming progressively stiffer
  • Night pain is disturbing your sleep
  • You can't reach overhead or behind your back
  • You've been diagnosed with frozen shoulder and want a structured plan

See a physician if shoulder pain follows a fall, comes with fever, swelling or redness, or appears with chest pain or shortness of breath.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my frozen shoulder go away on its own?

Many cases improve over time, but recovery can be slow and some people are left with lingering stiffness. Physical therapy helps maintain and regain motion and function along the way.

Should I push through the pain?

Not during the painful early phase. Your therapist will adjust intensity to the stage you're in.

What if therapy isn't enough?

Your physician may discuss options such as an injection, or in stubborn cases, procedures to release the capsule. Therapy is usually continued after those to keep the motion gained.

Ready to get started? Call the Refuah office nearest you

Schedule an evaluation by phone, or book online at refuahpt.com.

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About the author. Dr. Jack Engelberg, PT, DPT is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and owner of Refuah Physical & Occupational Therapy, with offices in Midwood and Boro Park, Brooklyn, and on Staten Island.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for general education only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Everyone’s situation is different. Talk with your physician or a licensed physical therapist about your symptoms. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.

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