Symptoms
- Gradual onset of shoulder pain
- Progressive stiffness and loss of range of motion
- Difficulty raising the arm or reaching behind the back
- Pain that worsens at night
Common causes
- Prolonged immobilisation after injury or surgery
- Diabetes (higher risk)
- Hormonal imbalances
- Autoimmune disorders
- Age (40-60 years)
How physiotherapy helps
Treatment includes joint mobilisation techniques, soft tissue massage, ultrasound therapy, and progressive stretching programmes. Heat therapy is used before exercises to improve tissue extensibility.
Exercises your physiotherapist may give you
- Pendulum swings
- Wall climbing exercises
- Cross-body shoulder stretch
- Towel stretch behind the back
- Active-assisted range of motion exercises
Please note: start these exercises only after an assessment, and stop if pain increases. Your physiotherapist will choose the right exercises, number of repetitions and progression for you.
Guide written by the physiotherapists of CAPT – Centre for Advanced Physiotherapy, MVM Educational Trust. For more reading, search MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine).