What is a common nonoperative approach for adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)?

• A. Corticosteroid injections only
• B. Electrical stimulation alone
• C. Physical therapy with ROM exercises and corticosteroid injection for pain and ROM as needed
• D. Surgical manipulation under anesthesia

Answer: (C)

A common nonoperative approach to adhesive capsulitis focuses on controlling pain enough to allow ongoing restoration of shoulder motion through targeted exercises. The best strategy combines structured physical therapy with range-of-motion exercises to gradually stretch and mobilize the joint, while a corticosteroid injection is used to reduce inflammation and enable you to participate in therapy more effectively, as needed. This approach addresses both pain and mobility, aiming to shorten the frozen period and prevent further stiffness without surgery.

Using corticosteroid injections alone may help pain briefly but often doesn’t reliably preserve or improve ROM by itself. Electrical stimulation without a ROM-focused plan doesn’t tackle the stiffness and joint restriction that define frozen shoulder. Surgical manipulation under anesthesia is an invasive option reserved for failure of nonoperative care and is not the first-line approach.