Frozen Shoulder: Myths vs. Evidence-Based Treatment

Many people believe frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) will fully resolve on its own. While spontaneous recovery is possible, natural healing can take 1.5–3 years, and some patients never regain full shoulder range of motion.

🔹 Evidence-Based Approach

Current guidelines (JOSPT 2020, BMJ 2021) emphasize:

1. Early guided exercise — Active-assisted range of motion within comfort limits.

2. Gentle joint mobilization — Therapist-guided movement to maintain function.

3. Patient education — Understanding stages of frozen shoulder and activity pacing.

4. 
   

This combination reduces pain, preserves daily function, and accelerates recovery. Overly aggressive stretching or waiting without intervention may delay healing or worsen stiffness.

References:

1. Hsu JE et al., JOSPT, 2020;50(3): 150–160.

2. Page MJ et al., BMJ, 2021;372:n555.

3. Cho CH et al., PubMed Review, 2019.