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Why Is My Shoulder So Stiff?Signs You May Have Frozen Shoulder

08 March 2025

Written by Wesley Adora (Physiotherapist, APAM)

Have you noticed your shoulder getting more painful and stiff over time?

Maybe you’ve woken up one morning and found it harder to lift your arm.

You might be dealing with frozen shoulder (FS)—a common but frustrating condition that affects people between the ages of 40 and 65.

In Japan and China, it’s even called the “50-year-old shoulder” as it so often appears around this stage of life.
frozen shoulder physiotherapist norwest

What Is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder begins with inflammation in the shoulder joint. 

This disrupts the normal structure of collagen fibers and leads to thickening of the joint capsule.

This combination of inflammation (causing pain) and capsule thickening (causing stiffness) makes it harder and harder to move your arm.

Frozen shoulder develops gradually over time, often without an obvious injury.

It starts with an uncomfortable ache, which then worsens into significant stiffness over weeks or months.

Many people describe it as feeling like their shoulder is “stuck” or “locked.”

Why Does Frozen Shoulder Happen?

In many cases, we don’t know exactly why frozen shoulder develops.

However, anything that increases inflammation in the shoulder may contribute to it.

Some known risk factors include:
✅ Diabetes
✅ Thyroid disorders
✅ Clinical depression
✅ Previous shoulder surgery or injury

If you have any of these conditions and your shoulder is becoming increasingly painful or stiff, it’s worth getting checked out.

Common Signs of Frozen Shoulder

People with frozen shoulder often describe their symptoms like this:

  • "My arm feels dead."

  • "I’m scared to move my arm too fast."

  • "It’s hard to find a comfortable position."

  • "My shoulder feels tender to touch."

  • "It feels like something is stuck."

  • "Please help!"

If these descriptions sound like what you’re experiencing, it might be time to take action.

Frozen Shoulder or Shoulder Arthritis?

It’s important to differentiate between frozen shoulder and arthritis.

Both can cause shoulder pain and stiffness.

Arthritis usually involves normal joint wear-and-tear, leading to a wide range of signs and symptoms such as loss of muscle or cartilage, bursitis, or degenerative rotator cuff tendons. 

Frozen shoulder involves inflammation and thickening of the joint capsule.

If you’re unsure what’s happening with your shoulder, getting a professional diagnosis is the best way forward.

What’s Next?

If you think you might have frozen shoulder, don’t wait for it to get worse. Check out our blog, “Frozen Shoulder Treatment: What Works & What Doesn’t”, to learn about your options.

Or better yet—book an appointment with us today so we can help you regain your movement and get back to feeling your best!
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