Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition caused by shoulder inflammation. Common symptoms include shoulder pain, stiffness and trouble moving your shoulder. A study published in 2024 reports that the incidence of frozen shoulder varies between 2% and 5%. There are many factors that can contribute to frozen shoulder, from injury to immobilization. You may be at a heightened risk of frozen shoulder after a surgery or an injury, especially if your shoulder is immobilized for a long time. There’s no guaranteed way to prevent frozen shoulder. However, physical therapy can help lower your risk and keep your shoulder moving as you recover.
Why does frozen shoulder develop after a surgery or injury?
Frozen shoulder tends to occur when the tissue around the shoulder joint becomes tight and inflamed, limiting a person’s ability to move their arm. This can happen after surgery or an injury for a few reasons:
- Lack of movement — After surgery or an injury, you might need to rest your shoulder. Your doctor may recommend keeping your arm in a sling. While this can be essential to recovery, it may also increase shoulder stiffness. Not moving your shoulder enough can lead to stiffness and eventually frozen shoulder.
- Swelling — Surgery or injuries can irritate your shoulder. They may cause inflammation in the muscle and joint tissue around your shoulder. When this tissue gets irritated and swells, it can make shoulder movement harder.
- Pain — You might feel pain when moving your shoulder after an injury or surgery. As a result, you might avoid using your shoulder whenever possible. Over time, not using your shoulder can cause the shoulder joint to stiffen.
How to prevent frozen shoulder post-op or post-injury: 3 steps
- Start moving early — After a shoulder injury or surgery, light movement can help promote healing and prevent stiffness. Consult with your surgeon or physical therapist to determine when it’s safe to start gentle shoulder movements. Gradual, pain-free movement can be key to preventing stiffness from setting in. Effective movements might include pendulum exercises or gentle arm circles. These exercises work to keep your shoulder joint active. While mobility is important, avoid overexerting your shoulder. Overexertion could interfere with healing. Aim to stay as mobile as your doctor or physical therapist advises.
- Stretch daily — Stretching the shoulder joint can help prevent stiffness and maintain mobility. Passive stretches, like using your unaffected arm to gently lift or rotate the recovering shoulder, can help without putting too much strain on your shoulder joint. A licensed physical therapist may also recommend stretching tools like a resistance band for at-home exercises.
- Stick to your recovery plan — Having a recovery plan after an injury or surgery is essential. You don’t have to make this plan alone; you can get help from your doctor or physical therapist. Your physical therapist can work with you to build a custom treatment plan. They can guide you through exercises tailored to your specific needs and recovery timeline. Adhering to your PT plan can be one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of frozen shoulder.
What your PT rehab journey might look like
Postsurgery or post-injury physical therapy can be key to fast-tracking your recovery. PT can help you maintain mobility and restore shoulder function. It can also reduce the risk of complications like frozen shoulders. To get a better understanding of how PT might benefit you, it can help to learn from an example. In this example, you can see what treatment might look like for someone who is recovering from rotator cuff tendinitis:
- Initial consultation — After sustaining an injury, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible. The first meeting with a physical therapist is called an initial consultation. During this session, your physical therapist might ask questions about your condition and medical history. Someone with rotator cuff tendinitis may be asked how long they’ve been experiencing symptoms. Their physical therapist may also conduct functional assessments, such as testing the patient’s range of motion at the shoulder. After this first meeting, the physical therapist will work with the patient to develop a personalized treatment plan.
- Treatment — In the early weeks of treatment, a physical therapist will typically focus on protecting the injured area. For someone with tendinitis in their shoulder, a physical therapist might recommend avoiding strenuous, high-impact activities. Treatments during this period may include gentle exercises designed to get the shoulder moving. These could include active exercises as well as passive joint mobilization. Light exercise can help prevent shoulder stiffness without disrupting the healing process. As a patient’s shoulder inflammation starts to decrease, their physical therapist can gradually adapt their treatment plan to meet changing needs. In addition to exercises and manual therapy, treatments like dry needling may be used to address tight muscles in the rotator cuff.
- Ongoing care — After your initial course of treatment, you may continue to benefit from PT. Maintaining an active lifestyle can be crucial to preventing frozen shoulder in the future. After a patient recovers from tendinitis, their physical therapist may recommend a home exercise program to keep their shoulder flexible and strong. Athletic patients may also benefit from continual sports performance therapy following recovery.
Get professional help during your recovery at Forever Fit
Forever Fit offers top-notch PT treatment at 10 convenient Maryland locations. Each location is staffed by expert physical therapists. If you’re seeking treatment at our Rockville location, for example, you can benefit from dry needling treatments and a specialized postsurgical rehab program. Whether you’re recovering from surgery or an injury, we’re here to guide you through every step of the process and help prevent complications like frozen shoulder.
Contact our team today for more information about frozen shoulder prevention or to schedule an initial appointment.