Author:- Dr Shikha Chadha (PT)
Mr. Harpal (name changed) was 63 when I attended him. His complaint was simple and frustrating: pain around his right shoulder, and an arm that would no longer go where he wanted. He could not lift it forward, and he could not take it backwards. Reaching for a shelf, dressing and even a simple stretch had become hard work.
He had already tried the easy route. He had taken painkillers for it, but they were not doing much. Like many people, he assumed shoulder pain was a muscle problem that would pass, and that a tablet could settle it. The pain did not go away, and the stiffness kept growing.
How the Assessment Began
The first thing I did was listen, then assess him thoroughly. I asked:
• how the pain started
• which movements hurt
• what he could no longer do
• how it was affecting his sleep and daily tasks
Then I tested how far his shoulder moved, both on its own and with my help, and looked at the joint and the muscles around it. I also asked about his medical history, and he told me he had been diabetic for 12 years. That detail mattered. People with diabetes are more likely to develop a stiff, painful shoulder, so it shaped how I understood his problem.
What Is Frozen Shoulder?
My final diagnosis was frozen shoulder. In plain language, this is a condition where the shoulder becomes painful and progressively stiff, so the joint loses movement in several directions.
It is different from many other kinds of shoulder pain:
• With a muscle strain or a tendon problem, the pain usually comes with a specific movement or activity, and the joint can still move when someone else lifts the arm.
• With a frozen shoulder, the stiffness is the main feature: moving the arm is limited, whether you try it yourself or someone helps.
This is one reason a proper assessment matters, because several different problems can cause shoulder pain, and they are not treated the same way.
The Stages of Frozen Shoulder
Mr. Harpal wanted to know what was happening, so I explained the condition to him, including its stages. Frozen shoulder generally moves through phases:
• Painful phase: pain is the main problem and movement starts to shrink.
• Stiff phase: pain may ease a little but the shoulder is very limited.
• Recovery phase: movement gradually returns.
People move through these stages at different speeds, so I never promise a fixed timeline. What I could promise him was a plan.
Frozen Shoulder Physiotherapy: What the Treatment Involved
He committed to it. He came for sessions with me dedicatedly for about one and a half months. His frozen shoulder physiotherapy included:
• the Spencer technique, a hands-on, rhythmic sequence of shoulder movements that works through the joint's range
• mobilization to improve movement at the joint
• an exercise protocol built around what his shoulder could tolerate at each stage
The work was gradual. We did not force the shoulder, and we adjusted what we did as his pain and movement changed. His recovery was successful.
Shoulder Pain Exercises: What to Avoid
The exercises were a big part of that success, but they were chosen for him. I get asked often for shoulder pain exercises, and there are many videos online. They can seem harmless, but the right physiotherapy exercises depend on which stage you are in and what your shoulder can handle. What helps a stiff shoulder in one phase can aggravate it in another.
And this is the thing I would tell anyone with a stiff, painful shoulder: do not force it.
• Do not push through sharp pain.
• Do not copy an intense routine you saw online without being assessed.
• Do not stretch aggressively hoping to "break" the stiffness.
Forcing a painful shoulder can make it more irritable and set you back.
When to See a Doctor
Do not wait the way Mr. Harpal did, hoping tablets would solve it. If shoulder pain or stiffness persists, or if it disturbs your sleep or makes everyday tasks like dressing, reaching or combing your hair difficult, get it assessed.
SEEK URGENT HELP Some symptoms should not wait for a clinic appointment. See a doctor urgently if you have sudden severe shoulder pain, a visible deformity after an injury, chest pain, or new weakness or numbness in your arm. Those can point to something more serious than a stiff shoulder, and they need prompt medical attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder is a condition where the shoulder becomes painful and progressively stiff, so the joint loses movement in several directions. The stiffness is the main feature: moving the arm is limited, whether you try it yourself or someone helps.
Q: How long does frozen shoulder take to recover?
There is no fixed timeline. Frozen shoulder generally moves through a painful phase, a stiff phase and a recovery phase, and people move through these stages at different speeds. Mr. Harpal attended sessions dedicatedly for about one and a half months, but your own recovery may be quicker or slower.
Q: Which shoulder pain exercises are best for frozen shoulder?
There is no single best exercise. The right exercises depend on which stage you are in and what your shoulder can handle, and what helps in one phase can aggravate it in another. Do not force the shoulder or copy an intense routine from a video without being assessed.
Q: How is frozen shoulder different from a muscle strain or tendon problem?
With a muscle strain or a tendon problem, the pain usually comes with a specific movement or activity, and the joint can still move when someone else lifts the arm. With a frozen shoulder, movement is limited even when someone else tries to lift the arm.
Q: When should I see a doctor about shoulder pain?
Get it assessed if pain or stiffness persists, or if it disturbs your sleep or everyday tasks. See a doctor urgently for sudden severe pain, a visible deformity after an injury, chest pain, or new weakness or numbness in your arm.
Conclusion
Mr. Harpal's shoulder stopped him from doing small things he had always taken for granted. The good news is that a frozen shoulder is something physiotherapy can help with, especially when it is assessed properly and treated step by step.
If your shoulder has been getting stiffer and your painkillers are not helping, do not keep waiting.
SUGGESTED CTA Book an assessment, and we will build a plan that fits your shoulder and your routine. HealDoor offers physiotherapy at home and at its Rohini West clinic.
