Frozen shoulder is a common problem that can severely limit mobility. These six range-of-motion exercises can offer tremendous relief.

As a therapist who frequently works on rehabilitating upper extremities, two of the most painful and frustrating presentations are fractured shoulders and frozen shoulders. These come with movement limitations that can take a patient weeks, months, or even years to recover, often resulting in residual restrictions in shoulder external rotation.

Frozen shoulder—also known as adhesive capsulitis—is an inflammatory condition that can start with a gradually progressive stiffness and lead to a significant restriction of range of motion. As capsulitis advances, shoulder flexion, external rotation, and abduction can all be severely affected.

Adhesive capsulitis most commonly appears in one shoulder and less commonly in both. It appears in women more than men and more often in the nondominant limb.