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Physiotherapy vocabulary · Musculoskeletal Conditions

Frozen shoulder

Meaning in physiotherapy, with examples

nounCommon term

In physiotherapy, frozen shoulder means: A condition in which the shoulder capsule becomes thick and tight, causing pain and a gradual, severe loss of movement, especially rotation.

In Turkish: donuk omuz, adeziv kapsülit

How it is used

The medical name is adhesive capsulitis. It is more common in middle age and in people with diabetes. It often moves through painful, stiff and recovery stages ('freezing, frozen, thawing') and can take a year or more to settle. Physiotherapists explain the natural course and help with pain and movement.

Example sentences

  1. With her frozen shoulder, she can't reach behind her back to do up her bra.

  2. Frozen shoulder usually gets better on its own, but it can take a long time.

Common collocations

  • adhesive capsulitis
  • freezing phase
  • frozen phase
  • thawing phase
  • rotationA turning movement of a part of the body around its own long axis, such as turning the head or turning the arm inwards or outwards.
  • stiffnessA feeling that a joint or muscle is tight and hard to move, often worse after rest or first thing in the morning.
  • rotator cuffA group of four muscles and their tendons around the shoulder joint, which keep the top of the arm bone centred in the joint and help to rotate and lift the arm.
  • range of motionHow far a joint can move in each direction, usually measured in degrees from a starting position.

More terms: Musculoskeletal Conditions

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.