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Howard J. Luks, MD

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Blog / Articles / Shoulder

I have been told I have a frozen shoulder… what is that?

Howard J. Luks, MD Updated October 11, 2021

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I have completely updated this post … please refer to this post on Frozen Shoulder

A frozen shoulder is simply a phrase we use for a shoulder joint that does not move normally.  There is a spectrum of involvement or severity and some patients can have almost no motion in their shoulder.  Frozen shoulders can follow surgery, trauma or fractures.  Most frozen shoulders, however, have no known cause.  Frozen shoulders are very common in diabetics and patients with hypothyroidism.

Most frozen shoulders will resolve spontaneously, with a home stretching program, or with the help of a physical therapist.  Diabetic frozen shoulders can be more difficult to treat.

Rarely, a manipulation under anesthesia or an arthroscopy is necessary to release the tissue responsible for “freezing” the joint.

Categories: Shoulder

Disclaimer:  this information is for your education and should not be considered medical advice regarding diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Some links on this page may be affiliate links. Read the full disclaimer.

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Howard J. Luks, MD

Howard J. Luks, MD is an orthopedic surgeon & sports medicine specialist. An expert in shoulder, knee, and other sports injuries, he is widely known as one of the country’s best orthopedic surgeons.

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  1. Audrey says

    September 20, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    Dr. Luks: Thank you for your very informative site. In your experience, what is the amount of time that it takes for a frozen shoulder to resolve itself, from the onset of symptoms to return to normalcy? Thank you!

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Howard J. Luks, MD is an orthopedic surgeon & sports medicine specialist. An expert in shoulder, knee, and other sports injuries, he is widely known as one of the country’s best orthopedic surgeons.

Book Appointment · About · Contact

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