Frozen Shoulder Treatment
What Is Frozen Shoulder Treatment?
For frozen shoulder that hasn’t improved sufficiently with physical therapy, medication, and injections, two additional procedures can help more directly address the tightened, thickened shoulder capsule that’s restricting motion: manipulation under anesthesia and arthroscopic capsular release. Both aim to break up or release the contracted capsule, allowing motion to be restored more quickly than waiting for the condition to gradually run its natural course.
When Are These Treatments Needed?
These procedures are generally considered for:
- Frozen shoulder that has not adequately improved after a thorough course of physical therapy, anti-inflammatory treatment, and corticosteroid injections
- Patients whose stiffness is significantly limiting daily activities and who want to avoid waiting the many months frozen shoulder can otherwise take to resolve on its own
- Cases where motion has plateaued despite consistent therapy participation
How Are These Treatments Performed?
- Manipulation under anesthesia — while the patient is under anesthesia (which allows the surrounding muscles to fully relax), the surgeon gently but firmly moves the shoulder through a full range of motion, mechanically stretching and breaking up the tightened, scarred portions of the capsule that are restricting movement.
- Arthroscopic capsular release — performed through small incisions using a camera and specialized instruments, the surgeon precisely identifies and releases the thickened, contracted portions of the capsule under direct visualization, offering more controlled, targeted release than manipulation alone, particularly for more severe or longstanding cases.
These two techniques are sometimes performed together in the same procedure, combining the precision of arthroscopic release with the more comprehensive stretching achieved through manipulation.
Coast your way to recovery
Dr. Palsis utilizes innovative treatment techniques to get you back in motion and back to the life you love.
Recovery After Frozen Shoulder Treatment
- Physical therapy begins very soon after the procedure — often the same day or the next day — since maintaining the newly regained motion is critical to a successful outcome
- Some discomfort and soreness is expected in the days following the procedure, as the capsule has just been forcefully stretched or surgically released
- A structured, consistent home stretching program alongside supervised therapy plays a major role in preserving the motion gained during the procedure
- Most patients see a significant, relatively rapid improvement in motion compared to waiting for frozen shoulder to resolve on its own, though continued diligence with stretching over the following weeks to months helps ensure the motion gains are maintained long-term
Get back to what moves you
Dr. Palsis specializes in the treatment of knee, shoulder, and sports injuries.