A report on the scientific literature 

Frozen shoulder syndrome (FSS)  is a common condition presenting to a variety of health care practitioners including chiropractors, osteopaths, medical doctors, and physical therapists. Also referred to as adhesive capsulitis, FSS remains one of the most poorly understood shoulder conditions, with its cause most of the time, unknown. Recently, a consensus definition of FSS was reached by the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons to be a condition characterized by functional restriction of both active (while moving) and passive (while still) shoulder motion for which  x-rays of the shoulder are usually negative. It occurs usually between 40 and 60 years of age, is 3 to 7 times more prevalent in women than men and it is characterized by sudden onset, night pain along with a painful restriction of numerous motions of the shoulder. Common  traditional medical treatments include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid injection, and shoulder surgery.