Shoulder Impingement vs Frozen Shoulder: Understanding the Difference and the Right Treatment

If you’re struggling with shoulder pain that won’t go away, it’s easy to feel stuck, especially when even simple tasks like reaching for a cup or putting on a shirt become a challenge. 

You may have heard of frozen shoulder or shoulder impingement, but figuring out which one you have and how to treat it can be confusing and frustrating.

What is frozen shoulder, and how does it differ from shoulder impingement? While they can feel alike at first, they affect your shoulder differently. That’s why seeing a frozen shoulder specialist matters.

What Is Shoulder Impingement Syndrome?

Shoulder impingement syndrome occurs when the tendons of the rotator cuff become pinched or irritated as they pass through a narrow space under the top part of the shoulder blade. 

This irritation leads to inflammation, pain, and a limited range of motion, especially when you raise your arm.

Your shoulder depends on smooth coordination between bones, muscles, and tendons. When that balance is thrown off, often by swelling or bone spurs, movement becomes painful and difficult.

What Causes Shoulder Impingement Syndrome?

This condition can affect anyone, not just athletes. Repeated overhead movements are a common trigger. You might develop shoulder impingement from everyday activities like:

• Lifting weights
• Swimming, playing tennis, or golf
• Using a computer mouse
• Carrying heavy bags or loads

What Is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a painful and frustrating condition that limits shoulder movement. 

It happens when the capsule of connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and thickened, making simple movements stiff and uncomfortable, even impossible, over time.

The condition develops gradually and usually moves through three stages:

• Freezing: Pain starts to build, and your shoulder slowly loses mobility.
• Frozen: Pain may lessen, but stiffness worsens. Daily tasks like dressing, driving, or sleeping on your side become a struggle.
• Thawing: Movement starts to return, but this stage can last months or even years for many people.

Frozen shoulder tends to affect adults between the ages of 40 and 60 and is more common in women. It’s often linked to diabetes, thyroid disorders, or long periods of immobility following an injury or surgery.

How to Tell the Difference Between Frozen Shoulder and Shoulder Impingement

One of the biggest signs you’re dealing with frozen shoulder is a severe loss of motion in all directions, especially when trying to:

• Lift your arm out to the side (abduction)
• Reach behind your back (internal rotation)
• Bring your hands up as if in a “surrender” position (external rotation)

If you have frozen shoulder, simple daily tasks like washing your hair, buttoning your blouse or shirt, or even placing your hand on your hip may feel impossible. Pain often gets worse at night and in many cases, it can become sharp, deep, and debilitating.

On the other hand, if you’re dealing with shoulder impingement, you may still be able to lift your arm sideways up to about 90 to 120 degrees without needing to tilt your body. 

While impingement can still cause pain, especially during certain movements, most people maintain a good range of motion in many directions. You might only feel pain at the top of a movement or when reaching back.

Effective Treatments for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome and Frozen Shoulder

The World Frozen Shoulder Clinic offers targeted relief if you’re dealing with Shoulder Impingement Syndrome. 

Dr. Allan Gary Oolo-Austin’s Myoneural Shoulder Impingement Procedure (MSIP) uses advanced neurological techniques to reduce pain and improve movement, often without medication.

Before introducing MSIP, Dr. Oolo-Austin became internationally recognized for creating the Manual Capsular Dissection (MCD) Procedure, a groundbreaking treatment for frozen shoulder with a 98% success rate.

Using a non-surgical, hands-on technique, trained frozen shoulder specialists manually break up the tight adhesions within the shoulder capsule, which are tissue bands responsible for pain and stiffness. 

Schedule a free consultation today! 

Categorised in: Blog - World Frozen Shoulder Clinic