Frozen shoulder is a condition in which the shoulder becomes progressively painful and stiff, often making everyday movements such as reaching overhead, dressing or reaching behind the back difficult. It usually develops gradually and may occur without any obvious injury.
Dr. Vaibhav Bagaria, Director of the Department of Orthopaedics at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, assesses and treats frozen shoulder according to the stage of the condition. The aim is to control pain, restore movement and choose treatment appropriate to how stiff the shoulder has become.
The shoulder joint is surrounded by a capsule of soft tissue. In frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, this capsule becomes inflamed, thickened and tight, restricting the normal movement of the joint.
Frozen shoulder usually progresses through overlapping stages. Pain and stiffness tend to increase during the painful stage, stiffness becomes the dominant problem during the stiff stage, and movement gradually returns during the recovery stage. The process can continue for many months and sometimes longer.
A characteristic feature is restriction of both active and passive shoulder movement. This means the arm remains restricted even when another person attempts to move it.
Frozen shoulder is more common and may be more persistent in people with diabetes.
Both underactive and overactive thyroid disorders have been associated with frozen shoulder.
Keeping the shoulder still after an injury, fracture or surgery can contribute to the development of stiffness.
Shoulder injuries and previous procedures can sometimes be followed by stiffness and frozen shoulder.
Frozen shoulder is most commonly seen between the ages of forty and sixty and occurs more frequently in women.
In many patients, no specific underlying cause can be identified.
Seek urgent care for severe shoulder pain following significant trauma, an obvious deformity, or an inability to move the arm after an injury. Numbness, weakness, coldness or colour change in the arm or hand also requires urgent assessment.
A hot, swollen shoulder accompanied by fever may indicate infection and needs prompt medical attention. Shoulder or arm pain associated with chest discomfort, breathlessness or sweating requires immediate medical assessment.
The doctor assesses when the pain and stiffness started, how they have progressed, the effect on sleep and daily activities, and any history of diabetes, thyroid disease, injury or prolonged immobilisation.
The key finding is restriction of both active and passive shoulder movement, particularly external rotation. The examination also assesses the rotator cuff and neck to exclude other sources of pain.
Treatment is selected according to how much pain and stiffness are present. An approach that is useful during the painful stage may not be appropriate once stiffness has become the dominant problem.
Most patients are managed without surgery. Treatment is adjusted to the stage of the condition and the level of pain and stiffness:
Surgery may be considered when significant stiffness persists despite appropriate non-surgical treatment for several months and continues to interfere with work, sleep or everyday activities.
Rehabilitation remains essential. The aim of treatment is not simply to improve movement during a procedure but to maintain that movement through structured physiotherapy afterwards.
Physiotherapy immediately after the procedure is important. The procedure helps restore movement, while rehabilitation helps preserve and improve that movement during recovery.
Over two decades of orthopaedic surgical
experience
Internationally fellowship-trained in the USA,
Germany and Australia
Surgery recommended only when it is
genuinely the better option
Among India's earliest robotic joint
replacement surgeons
150+ peer-reviewed publications and multiple
device patents
Structured rehabilitation planned before the
operation, not after
Dr. Vaibhav Bagaria is Director and Head of the Department of Orthopaedics at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, and one of the earliest surgeons in India to adopt robotic joint replacement. Over twenty-two years of practice he has treated patients across the full range of bone and joint conditions, with a particular focus on robotic knee and hip replacement, partial knee replacement, sports injury and arthroscopy, and complex pelvic and acetabular reconstruction.
Name
Dr. Vaibhav Bagaria
Experience
20+ Years
Qualifications
MS (Ortho) FASSI, FNUS, FNAMS..
Speciality
Practice
Schedule your consultation with Dr. Vaibhav Bagaria today
Dr Vaibhav Bagaria
Prarthana Samaj, Khetwadi, Girgaon,
Mumbai, Maharashtra 400004
02261305757
