Frozen Shoulder: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Heal It Faster

Frozen shoulder — also known as adhesive capsulitis — is one of the most stubborn and frustrating conditions out there.

It can sneak up on you slowly, but once it sets in, it locks down your shoulder joint, making even basic movements like putting on a shirt or reaching for a cabinet painful and difficult.

Let’s break down what’s actually happening, what causes it, and most importantly, how you can heal faster.

What Is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder happens when the connective tissue capsule surrounding your shoulder joint thickens, tightens, and becomes inflamed.

This limits your ability to move the shoulder and can create deep, aching pain.

Common Causes of Frozen Shoulder

The most common triggers include:

• Shoulder injuries or surgeries (especially when the shoulder isn’t moved much afterward)
• Prolonged immobility (like after wearing a sling)
• Medical conditions such as diabetes or thyroid disorders

However, there are also lesser-known causes that people don’t talk about as much — and they’re just as important to know.

Lesser-Known Causes of Frozen Shoulder

1. Autoimmune Diseases
   • Conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and type 1 diabetes can cause chronic inflammation inside the body — and that inflammation can directly affect the shoulder capsule, leading to fibrosis and frozen shoulder.

2. Breast Implants
   • Breast implants, especially when the body reacts by forming capsular contracture (hardening and tightening around the implant), can indirectly trigger shoulder capsule inflammation. Over time, this can lead to restricted shoulder movement and frozen shoulder symptoms.

3. General Inflammation from Surgery or Trauma
   • Sometimes surgeries or injuries that aren’t even in the shoulder area can cause enough systemic inflammation and immobility to set off the freezing process.

Stages of Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder typically develops in three stages:

How Frozen Shoulder Is Typically Treated

The main goals are to reduce pain, improve range of motion, and restore shoulder function.

Common treatment strategies include:

• Gentle stretching and range of motion exercises (like pendulum swings and wall crawls)
• Pain management (ice, heat, anti-inflammatories)
• Gradual strengthening (light resistance work as motion improves)
• Physical therapy to mobilize and re-educate the shoulder

How SoftWave Therapy Can Help Heal Frozen Shoulder Faster

SoftWave Tissue Regenerative Therapy (TRT) is a cutting-edge, non-invasive technology that uses sound waves to stimulate healing deep inside the tissue.

Here’s how SoftWave can help:

• Reduces inflammation in the shoulder capsule
• Breaks up fibrotic adhesions that keep the joint stiff
• Stimulates new blood vessel growth and recruits healing cells to the area
• Speeds up functional recovery so you can regain motion faster

Instead of waiting 12 to 24 months for natural healing, SoftWave can dramatically shorten the recovery timeline by directly addressing the underlying problem — inflammation and fibrosis.

Final Thoughts

Frozen shoulder can feel like an overwhelming and never-ending battle — but you have options.

By understanding the true causes, taking a smart approach to movement, and using regenerative therapies like SoftWave, you can speed up your recovery and get back to doing what you love without constant pain.

If you’re struggling with shoulder pain, don’t wait.

The sooner you start moving — and the sooner you target the root cause — the faster you can heal.