Frozen Shoulder

Wear of the smooth cartilage lining the ball and socket of the shoulder, producing deep pain, grinding and progressive stiffness.

Shoulder Arthritis

Adhesive capsulitis: thickening and tightening of the joint capsule that stiffens the shoulder and causes months of pain, often with no injury at all.

Frozen Shoulder

A tear of the top of the labrum where the biceps tendon anchors, common in throwers and after a fall on an outstretched arm.

SLAP Tear

A sprain or separation of the joint where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade, usually from a fall onto the point of the shoulder.

AC Joint Injury

Inflammation, fraying or tearing of the biceps tendon where it anchors inside the shoulder, often alongside rotator cuff or labral problems.

Biceps Tendon Injury

Inflammation of the fluid-filled cushion between the rotator cuff and the bony roof of the shoulder, causing pain with reaching and lying on that side.

Shoulder Bursitis

Breaks of the collarbone, the upper arm bone at the shoulder, or the shoulder blade, from falls and collisions. Many heal in a sling; some need fixation or replacement.

Shoulder Fractures

Damage to the smooth cartilage surface of the ball or socket, from a dislocation, an injury or early wear, that causes pain, catching and the start of arthritis.

Shoulder Cartilage Injury

Overuse injuries of the shoulder and elbow in baseball, softball and other overhead athletes: labral tears, internal impingement, biceps problems and elbow ligament strain.

Throwing Injuries

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Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.

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Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104

Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330

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What it is

Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder is inflammation and scarring of the capsule that surrounds the shoulder joint.

The capsule thickens and contracts until the shoulder cannot move in any direction, even when someone else moves it for you.It passes through a painful freezing stage, a stiff frozen stage, and a slow thawing stage, often over one to two years.

Treated by

J. Ryan Taylor, MD, Shoulder and Sports Medicine surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. TaylorShoulder and Sports Medicine

Kevin Christensen, MD, Knee, Shoulder and Sports Medicine surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. ChristensenKnee, Shoulder and Sports Medicine

Michael Carlson, MD, Shoulder and Sports Medicine surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. CarlsonShoulder and Sports Medicine

or call801-640-0000

Frozen Shoulder

Symptoms

Pain that begins without clear injury and worsens over weeks, especially at night and with sudden movements.Then progressive stiffness: trouble reaching behind the back, overhead, or across the body.

The hallmark is loss of passive motion, meaning the shoulder is stiff even when relaxed.

Common signs

Pain that started without injury

Stiffness in every direction

Trouble reaching back or overhead

Stiff even when someone moves it

See us sooner if

Fever or redness with the pain

Stiffness after a fall

Frozen Shoulder

Causes

Often no identifiable cause.It is far more common in people with diabetes and thyroid disease, in women, and between ages forty and sixty. It can follow a period of immobilization after injury or surgery.One shoulder is affected at a time, and the other side develops it in about one in five patients.

Frozen Shoulder

How We Diagnose It

Exam shows loss of both active and passive motion in a characteristic pattern.X-rays are normal, which rules out arthritis. MRI is not usually necessary unless a cuff tear is suspected.A normal X-ray with a stiff shoulder is the diagnosis.Common in our diabetic patients; an injection at the first visit usually shortens the painful phase considerably. Dr. Taylor, Dr. Christensen and Dr. Carlson operate at Utah Valley Hospital and American Fork Hospital.

Frozen Shoulder

Treatment Options

Most frozen shoulders resolve with time, physical therapy and a corticosteroid injection into the joint, which shortens the painful phase considerably. Anti-inflammatories help sleep.When stiffness persists beyond six to twelve months despite therapy, arthroscopic capsular release with manipulation restores motion.

Your options

Non-surgical

Joint injection

Physical therapy

Anti-inflammatories

Time

Surgical

Capsular release

Manipulation

Shoulder Arthroscopy

Frozen Shoulder

Procedures That Address It

Shoulder Arthroscopy

Frozen Shoulder

Surgeons Who Treat It

Dr. Taylor, MD

Dual fellowship trained in sports medicine and in shoulder and elbow surgery. Former Division I football player.

Dr. Christensen, MD

Andrews Institute sports medicine fellowship under Dr. James Andrews. Board certified in orthopedic surgery and orthopedic sports medicine. Fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Carlson, MD

Arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, elbow, knee, hip and ankle. Published sports medicine researcher. Fourteen years in practice.

or call801-640-0000

ContactTalk toa real person.

Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.

Call801-640-0000

TextSend a text

Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104

Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330