Frozen shoulder: what it is and what to expect
Frozen shoulder — adhesive capsulitis — earns its name honestly: it's a gradual, often painful loss of shoulder movement that can take months to develop and months to resolve.
It typically moves through stages: a painful 'freezing' phase where range of motion drops, a 'frozen' phase where stiffness dominates over pain, and a 'thawing' phase where movement slowly returns.
Because the timeline is long, the biggest risk is losing patience with a plan that's actually working. Manual therapy, guided mobility work, and — when appropriate — cupping or electrotherapy for pain relief, are combined to keep progress moving at each stage.
The honest answer to 'how long will this take' is that it varies by stage and by person. What we commit to is telling you clearly where you are in that process and what to expect next.
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