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Meta Description: Learn what causes frozen shoulder and how chiropractic care in Honolulu helps restore motion and reduce pain. Ke'Ale Chiropractic, led by Dr. Wyland Luke, shares a practical approach to relief and recovery.
Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a painful loss of shoulder motion caused by inflammation and tightening of the joint capsule. The capsule shrinks and thickens, fluid volume inside the joint drops, and everyday moves like reaching overhead or behind the back become hard. People often notice a deep ache that ramps up at night and a sharp catch at the end of range. Without a plan, the process can drag on for months.
Most cases follow a pattern. In the freezing phase, pain climbs and motion declines. Sleep gets disrupted and simple tasks start to hurt. During the frozen phase, pain may settle a bit, but stiffness dominates. Shirts, hair care, and seat belts are a struggle. In the thawing phase, range gradually returns and pain fades. This arc can take 9 to 18 months, sometimes longer if other health issues are involved.
Risks include diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, recent shoulder immobilization, post-surgical guarding, and perimenopausal changes. A minor strain that led to weeks of “babying” the arm can be enough to start the cascade. The body protects a painful joint by recruiting surrounding muscles, which further limits motion and fuels the cycle.
The shoulder capsule becomes inflamed, then fibrotic. Synovial fluid decreases and adhesions form, especially in the rotator interval and the inferior capsule. The coracohumeral ligament can tighten, locking down external rotation. Muscles like the subscapularis, pec minor, and the posterior cuff often become short and irritable, while the scapula moves too much to compensate for a stiff glenohumeral joint.
Early on, sharp pain with quick moves and a dull throb at rest are common. Putting on a shirt, fastening a bra, reaching the back pocket, and overhead tasks provoke symptoms. Night pain is a hallmark and often wakes people in the freezing phase. Over time, pain eases but the arm still won’t go where it needs to, which is frustrating and can sap confidence in movement.
Adhesive capsulitis presents with a clear loss of both active and passive motion, especially external rotation and abduction. Strength may be okay within the available range but limited by pain. Imaging is often normal or non-specific; X-rays help rule out arthritis and calcific deposits. Ultrasound or MRI can support the picture if needed, but the clinical exam usually tells the story.
At Ke'Ale Chiropractic in Honolulu, Dr. Wyland Luke builds care around the current phase of the condition. The aim is to lower pain, restore motion in a measured way, and rebuild control without provoking setbacks. Visits include an assessment of capsular pattern loss, scapular mechanics, cervical and thoracic mobility, and related muscle tone. Diabetes status, thyroid history, medications, and prior surgeries are reviewed because they influence pace and technique choices.
During the freezing phase, the focus is calming the joint and keeping gentle motion alive. Care includes low-grade joint mobilization, comfortable ranges for pendulums and table slides, soft tissue work for the pec minor, upper trapezius, and posterior cuff, and sleep positioning that protects the shoulder. As irritability drops, mobilizations progress in direction and grade to target capsular restrictions, particularly external rotation at neutral and abduction angles. The frozen phase adds more assertive end-range holds and contract-relax work while maintaining comfort. In the thawing phase, strengthening and end-range control become the priority.
Gentle glenohumeral mobilizations improve glide in the directions that match the capsular pattern. Scapulothoracic mobilization restores rib and shoulder blade motion so the glenohumeral joint is not carrying the whole load. Soft tissue techniques address subscapularis, latissimus, teres major, posterior capsule, and pec minor to reduce guarding and open space for joint work.
Early movement should be pain-tolerant and frequent. Pendulums, pulleys in a comfortable arc, and table slides help keep synovial fluid moving. Gentle external rotation with a dowel at the side is often safe if kept within a mild stretch. Isometrics for the rotator cuff and scapular setting drills provide stability without flaring symptoms.
As motion returns, drills shift toward the edges of range with careful dosing. Sleeper stretch or posterior capsule glides can be layered in if tolerated. Wall walks, active assisted flexion and abduction, and prone or standing scapular work (Y, T, and low row patterns) improve control. Rotator cuff strengthening with bands in neutral and then elevated positions helps lock in new range. Sets are short, tempo is steady, and form is strict to avoid substitution.
Most patients do best with brief, frequent sessions instead of long, aggressive workouts. Morning and evening routines paired with daily tasks are easier to maintain. Before sessions, a few minutes of heat or a warm shower can reduce stiffness. After sessions, a cold pack can quiet reactive soreness. Dr. Luke gives clear guardrails: where to feel the stretch, how long to hold, and when to stop.
Low-level laser can reduce pain and sensitivity in irritated tissues and help patients tolerate manual work and exercise. Therapeutic ultrasound may help softening stubborn areas in the frozen phase when combined with immediate movement. Kinesio taping can cue posture and reduce tugging during daily tasks. These are adjuncts, not stand-alone fixes, and are used to make the important work—motion and control—more comfortable.
Side sleepers benefit from hugging a pillow to unload the shoulder and from avoiding the painful side early on. Desk work improves with elbow support and relaxed shoulder position. Reaching strategies are modified to keep the arm close to the body while motion returns. In Honolulu’s warm climate, staying hydrated and timing mobility after light activity can make sessions smoother.
For high-irritability cases or those with metabolic drivers, Dr. Luke coordinates with primary care and orthopedics. Corticosteroid injections may be considered early in the freezing phase to reduce severe pain and allow progress with rehab. If progress stalls despite consistent care, imaging and co-management help keep the plan on track.
Most patients notice better sleep and a small increase in comfortable range within a few weeks. By eight to twelve weeks, reaching to shelves, hair care, and dressing usually feel less restricted. The full arc often spans several months. Maintenance includes brief weekly or biweekly mobility work and continued cuff and scapular strength to prevent a slide back into guarded patterns.
A patient with a desk job developed frozen shoulder after weeks of guarding a minor strain. In the freezing phase, we used gentle mobilizations, pain-tolerant assisted range, and soft tissue work around the scapula. Sleep improved first. By week six, external rotation at the side increased measurably and dressing felt easier. Another patient after breast surgery progressed through frozen and thawing phases with a slow, steady plan focused on pec minor release, rib mobility, and dowel-assisted external rotation. She returned to swimming with good shoulder rhythm after several months.
Pain that fades faster after activity, a few more degrees of external rotation, smoother shirt-on and shirt-off routines, and fewer night wake-ups show momentum. Setbacks happen; the plan scales for a few days and then resumes progression.
What causes frozen shoulder in the first place? Adhesive capsulitis often follows a period of immobilization or guarding after pain. Metabolic factors like diabetes and thyroid issues raise risk. In many cases no single event explains it, but the pattern is consistent.
How long does recovery take? Many see early changes in four to six weeks, with steady gains over three to six months. Some cases need longer. Progress depends on phase, health status, and consistency.
Is treatment painful? Care aims for mild to moderate stretch without sharp pain. Soreness can happen after sessions, but it should settle within a day. If pain lingers, the plan is adjusted.
Do I need imaging? Not always. Imaging is used to rule out other problems or when progress stalls. The physical exam usually provides the diagnosis.
Can chiropractic care prevent frozen shoulder from coming back? Keeping shoulder motion, cuff and scapular strength, and thoracic mobility in your weekly routine lowers the chance of recurrence. Periodic tune-ups help catch stiffness early.
Is surgery ever needed? Rarely. Most cases respond to a structured conservative plan. Resistant cases may consider hydrodilatation or, in select situations, surgical release, usually after a full trial of non-surgical care.
Ke'Ale Chiropractic, led by Dr. Wyland Luke in Honolulu, helps frozen shoulder patients regain motion and confidence with phase-based care, gentle hands-on work, and clear home routines. If your shoulder has been stuck for weeks or months, book an appointment and start a plan that brings back comfortable movement.
