Women’s Health recently interviewed Natasha Trentacosta, MD, a sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, about frozen shoulder, a painful condition that can severely limit shoulder movement but often improves with early treatment.
Also known as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder is surprisingly common, affecting up to 1 in 20 people during their lifetime. While the exact cause is not known, it most often affects women between 40 and 60—an age range that overlaps with menopause. Experts believe hormonal changes during menopause may play a role.
Trentacosta told Women’s Health that the condition causes the shoulder joint’s range of motion to become increasingly limited over time, and discomfort can be severe.
“Frozen shoulder can be one of the most painful shoulder conditions I see in the office,” she said.
Trentacosta told Women’s Health that inflammation of the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint causes tissue to thicken and tighten, leading to stiffness, pain and reduced mobility. She said that anyone experiencing symptoms should seek medical evaluation, ideally by a sports medicine physician or orthopedic surgeon.
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