Roughly one out ten cases of shoulder dysfunctions are some level of frozen shoulder (more specifically adhesive capsulitis).1 Frozen shoulder causes shoulder pain and range of motion that gets increasingly restricted over time. This results from the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint becoming progressively thicker and tighter. Frozen shoulder proves debilitating for many, but most articles state that it resolves on its own. Unfortunately, a closer read of the data paints a less optimistic picture. Does frozen shoulder get better on its own? Here’s the data.
If frozen shoulder gets better on its own, this most commonly occurs after one-and-a-half to three years. Getting better on its own can take up to six years.2
Four out of ten cases take longer than three years to get better on their own.
Long-term disability occurs in one out of seven patients waiting for frozen shoulder to get better on its own. 3,4
Permanent functional loss occurs in one-out-of-fourteen to one-out-of-seven cases. 5
Fortunately, when people have shoulder pain or dysfunction, they do not have to take these chances. Research shows that supervised exercise therapy and other treatments available in physical therapy provide fast relief of pain with improvement in function. 6,7
References:
Walker‐Bone K, Palmer KT, Reading I, Coggon D, Cooper C. Prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population. Arthritis Care & Research. 2004 Aug 15;51(4):642-51.
Wong CK, Levine WN, Deo K, Kesting RS, Mercer EA, Schram GA, Strang BL. Natural history of frozen shoulder: fact or fiction? A systematic review. Physiotherapy. 2017 Mar 1;103(1):40-7.
Koh KH. Corticosteroid injection for adhesive capsulitis in primary care: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Singapore Medical Journal. 2016 Dec;57(12):646.
Hand C, Clipsham K, Rees JL, Carr AJ. Long-term outcome of frozen shoulder. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2008 Mar 1;17(2):231-6.
Mertens MG, Meert L, Struyf F, Schwank A, Meeus M. Exercise therapy is effective for improvement in range of motion, function, and pain in patients with frozen shoulder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2022 May 1;103(5):998-1012.
Nakandala P, Nanayakkara I, Wadugodapitiya S, Gawarammana I. The efficacy of physiotherapy interventions in the treatment of adhesive capsulitis: A systematic review. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. 2021 Jan 1;34(2):195-205.
Page MJ, Green S, Kramer S, Johnston RV, McBain B, Buchbinder R. Electrotherapy modalities for adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014(10).
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