Frozen Shoulder Symptoms

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a chronic aseptic inflammation involving the shoulder joint capsule and surrounding tissues, leading to shoulder pain and restricted movement. It mostly occurs in people over 40 years old, particularly middle-aged women, office workers with prolonged sitting, diabetes patients, and those with a history of shoulder injury.

Globally, frozen shoulder is prevalent in East Asia (such as China, Japan, and South Korea), Southeast Asia (such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore), and Western countries. It mainly affects middle-aged and elderly groups. The greatest risk lies in its subtle early symptoms, which, if ignored, can easily progress to chronic adhesive inflammation, impairing shoulder function and reducing quality of life.

Detailed Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder

1. Persistent Dull Shoulder Pain

In the early stages, patients often feel vague pain around the shoulder joint, which worsens with fatigue, weather changes, or at night, often affecting sleep and mental state.

2. Restricted Range of Motion

A hallmark feature of frozen shoulder is restricted movement, especially when raising the arm, extending backward, or rotating. Patients may even struggle with basic actions such as dressing or combing hair.

3. Obvious Morning Stiffness

Upon waking, the shoulder joint feels noticeably stiff, which gradually eases after proper heat therapy or movement. This symptom often indicates inflammatory adhesion of the joint capsule.

4. Muscle Weakness and Atrophy

Due to prolonged pain and restricted movement, shoulder muscles, especially the deltoid and supraspinatus, gradually weaken, and mild muscle atrophy may occur.

5. Worsening Night Pain

Many patients report significant nighttime pain, particularly when lying on the affected side, where pressure causes severe pain, seriously disrupting sleep quality and mental well-being.

6. Referred Pain to Neck and Arm

In some cases, pain extends beyond the shoulder joint to the upper arm, neck, or even the elbow, often associated with nerve compression or inflammatory traction.

7. Cold Weather Triggers Symptoms

Cold or damp environments reduce shoulder blood circulation, often exacerbating symptoms with increased pain and stiffness.

8. Difficulty Raising or Extending the Arm

During activities such as washing hair, dressing, or reaching for objects, patients often experience discomfort due to restricted shoulder mobility, indicating progression to mid or late stages.

9. Noticeable Tenderness on Palpation

Tender points can be felt around the acromion and anterior deltoid. Some patients may also have bursae tenderness, with pain aggravated during movement, suggesting persistent inflammation.

10. Poor Self-Relief Ability

Frozen shoulder is different from mild soft tissue strain, with very low chances of self-healing. Without systematic treatment, symptoms may persist for months or even years.

Conclusion

Experts at United Life International Medical Center remind that although the early symptoms of frozen shoulder are not severe, they are often the beginning of a chronic condition. Paying attention to shoulder pain, stiffness, and movement limitation, and seeking timely medical care combined with stem cell and comprehensive therapies, can help reverse the disease progression, prevent functional impairment, and safeguard quality of life.