It is a well-known adage that 'life begins at forty'. Unfortunately, so do a number of medical conditions which rarely affect young people, ranging from arthritis to alzheimer's. People over forty are much more likely to suffer from frozen shoulder than those under forty. The condition is very painful, restricting the range of motion a sufferer can make with their arm/arms (if they have frozen shoulders). The condition causes the shoulder capsule to seize up for as long as three years, making many everyday tasks (dressing, washing, driving) difficult.

It is though that frozen shoulder occurs when scar tissue forms in the shoulder capsule, causing it to contract and thicken. This process reduces space for the humerus to move. Scar tissue may form on the shoulder capsule for a variety of reasons, such as after shoulder injury or even from heavy exercise (pumping iron is believed to be a cause), but sometimes there is no obvious reason for developing frozen shoulder symptoms. The condition is far more prevalent in the 40-60 age group than in younger or older people.

It is possible (if unadvisable) to make a frozen shoulder diagnosis by yourself, but you should consult a doctor before undertaking any frozen shoulder treatment. Traditional methods for easing symptoms of the condition generally involve administering anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and then working through the scar tissue build-up with a range of exercises designed to increase mobility. While this is known to help ease symptoms, the simple fact is that frozen shoulder takes a long time to clear up - sometimes as long as four years. The medical name for frozen shoulder is Adhesive Capsulitis.

Frozen shoulder can make many everyday tasks difficult. Imagine, for instance, a wedding where the groom cannot lift his arm enough to place a ring on his fiancee's finger. Other tasks such a washing up after dinner, hanging laundry and driving are made impossible by more serious cases of the condition. It is often suggested that sufferers should do their best to carry on as normal when carrying a frozen shoulder, because movement has been proven to ease the problem. Some newer methods for dealing with frozen shoulder discard the use of NSAIDs and focus purely on the use of motion to address the problem.