frozen shoulder cure?

As a physical therapist I'm often asked if injections "cure" a frozen shoulder. I almost always begin by saying "no" and then proceed to tell the patient that an injection (typically and anti-inflammatory agent) MAY give some temporary relief, but is not the answer to their stiffness and pain.

In fact, an injection with a corticosteriod, if given multiple times, can cause way more problems than it solves. Repeat steroid injections can weaken tissues and bone and may actually put the recipient at further risk.

Now if the pain is unbearable I'm not totally against this type of injection, but would rather educate the patient on the benefits of specific frozen shoulder exercise and treatment to reduce the amount of pain and stiffness.

You see, when a frozen shoulder develops the first thing a patient does is stop moving the shoulder as much. This causes "adaptive shortening" of the joint capsule surrounding the crucial rotator cuff. When this happens the cuff muscles do not have enough "room" to perform their function and end up getting iritated due to friction againt the capsule wall.

Guess what happens then? MORE pain and stiffness. The best solution to relieving frozen shoulder pain is with a specifically targeted exercise program designed by a healthcare professional that has experience in this area. The gradual stretching of capsular tissue and release of adhesions is the true "cure" for a frozen shoulder.