Question 1

Electroacupuncture vs. regular acupuncture for frozen shoulder: did research find a difference?

Accepted Answer

An analysis pooling 13 randomized trials with 936 people found that electroacupuncture gave better results for pain. However, the size of the difference was not large, and the methods varied from study to study.

Question 2

Exercise therapy for frozen shoulder: what changes at each stage?

Accepted Answer

It helps. But it's not the same exercise at any time — what you do changes completely depending on which stage you are in now.

Question 3

If I can't raise my arm at a young age, what should be suspected?

Accepted Answer

Patients tell us it started as just a little stiffness in the shoulder, but at some point their arm wouldn't go above shoulder height. Many come in only after reaching the stage where they have to bend their head down to wash their hair because the arm won't go up, and it hurts to put on or take off clothes.

Question 4

If fear of pain has made me stop using my shoulder, how do we start?

Accepted Answer

Patients tell us that the pain is bad enough, but they've stopped using the shoulder altogether out of fear that it will hurt. Even in the exam room, when we ask them to raise their arm, they hesitate first.

Frozen shoulder