2023 Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine
Guidelines have been developed for treating frozen shoulder using traditional Chinese medicine, with multiple therapies such as acupuncture and exercise recommended.
Acupuncture for Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a painful condition that affects the shoulder joint. This condition often develops in three phases: freezing, frozen, and thawing, with each phase representing different levels of discomfort and reduced mobility. Initially, individuals may experience pain and stiffness in the shoulder, which progresses to a point where it becomes challenging to perform everyday activities like reaching overhead, getting dressed, or even lifting objects.
Most individuals will naturally recover from frozen shoulder, but without treatment, the problem can severely affect their quality of life from several months to a few years.
What is our clinical experience?
Based on feedback collected from over 2,003 initial appointments for Arm, Elbow & Hand Pain, 73% of our surveyed patients reported improved quality of life after their first 3 appointments. See our detailed benchmarking statistics.
InitialConsults
2,003
AverageAppointments
3
ImprovedQuality of Life
73%
Refer Family &Friends
87%
Who have we treated with this condition?
The age groups and genders we see most frequently with this condition. Note: this chart only represents the people who seek treatment at Ping Ming Health clinics for this condition.
- Female (51%)
- Male (49%)
| Age | Female % | Male % |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 19 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 20 | 0 | 0.05 |
| 21 | 0.1 | 0 |
| 22 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| 23 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| 24 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| 25 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| 26 | 0.2 | 0.05 |
| 27 | 0.15 | 0.1 |
| 28 | 0.35 | 0.15 |
| 29 | 0.25 | 0.3 |
| 30 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| 31 | 0.54 | 0.25 |
| 32 | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| 33 | 0.69 | 0.35 |
| 34 | 0.74 | 0.64 |
| 35 | 0.79 | 0.64 |
| 36 | 0.99 | 0.64 |
| 37 | 0.59 | 0.99 |
| 38 | 1.14 | 0.59 |
| 39 | 0.84 | 0.99 |
| 40 | 0.45 | 1.04 |
| 41 | 1.19 | 0.89 |
| 42 | 1.58 | 1.34 |
| 43 | 0.94 | 1.34 |
| 44 | 0.94 | 1.09 |
| 45 | 1.34 | 1.54 |
| 46 | 1.29 | 1.34 |
| 47 | 0.94 | 1.98 |
| 48 | 0.94 | 1.29 |
| 49 | 1.24 | 0.94 |
| 50 | 1.68 | 1.39 |
| 51 | 0.84 | 1.78 |
| 52 | 1.63 | 1.19 |
| 53 | 1.34 | 2.13 |
| 54 | 1.54 | 1.04 |
| 55 | 1.68 | 0.89 |
| 56 | 1.44 | 1.44 |
| 57 | 1.98 | 1.73 |
| 58 | 0.79 | 1.24 |
| 59 | 1.54 | 0.79 |
| 60 | 1.04 | 1.14 |
| 61 | 1.78 | 0.94 |
| 62 | 0.94 | 0.84 |
| 63 | 1.09 | 0.99 |
| 64 | 0.89 | 0.79 |
| 65 | 1.09 | 0.94 |
| 66 | 0.84 | 0.84 |
| 67 | 0.99 | 1.09 |
| 68 | 0.54 | 0.79 |
| 69 | 0.79 | 0.74 |
| 70 | 0.94 | 0.45 |
| 71 | 0.79 | 0.5 |
| 72 | 0.69 | 0.64 |
| 73 | 0.84 | 0.4 |
| 74 | 0.74 | 0.4 |
| 75 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| 76 | 0.35 | 0.54 |
| 77 | 0.3 | 0.25 |
| 78 | 0.4 | 0.45 |
| 79 | 0.4 | 0.15 |
| 80 | 0.15 | 0.4 |
| 81 | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| 82 | 0.05 | 0.2 |
| 83 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| 84 | 0.25 | 0.05 |
| 85 | 0.15 | 0.1 |
| 86 | 0.15 | 0.1 |
| 87 | 0.1 | 0.05 |
| 88 | 0.05 | 0.15 |
| 89 | 0.15 | 0 |
| 90 | 0.05 | 0 |
| 91 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 92 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 93 | 0.1 | 0 |
| 94 | 0.05 | 0 |
| 95 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| 97 | 0.05 | 0 |
| 98 | 0 | 0.05 |
How many sessions of treatment?
The average number of appointments that patients attend for this condition. Some conditions respond quickly while others may require ongoing treatment.
Which types of treatments?
The types of treatments that are most frequently provided for this condition. Some treatments may be used in combination at the same time.
What does the research say?
The following insights are obtained from systematic reviews and analysis of clinical trials investigating the efficacy of Chinese medicine and acupuncture for frozen shoulder.
2023 Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation
Auricular acupuncture relieved pain and decreased disability more effectively than physiotherapy for frozen shoulder treatment.
2022 Frontiers in Medicine
Electroacupuncture may be more effective than manual acupuncture for managing frozen shoulder, with larger effect sizes in terms of pain, function, and response rate.
2021 American Journal of Translational Research
Massage combined with acupuncture can better improve the range of motion of joints and daily living ability of patients with frozen shoulder complicated with cervical spondylosis.
2020 Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Electroacupuncture plus rehabilitation may provide earlier pain relief for patients with frozen shoulder syndrome and could be applied clinically.
2020 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Acupuncture could be safe and effective for pain reduction, restoring shoulder function, and restoring flexion range of motion for frozen shoulder patients in the short term and midterm.
2017 Physiotherapy
Acupuncture combined with physiotherapy or exercise was found to be more effective for frozen shoulder than physiotherapy or exercise alone in the short and long term.
2016 Materia Socio Medica
Acupuncture may enhance shoulder movement and relieve pain more effectively than standard treatment in patients suffering from adhesive capsulitis, also known as a frozen shoulder.
Seek personalised healthcare and advice
Although well-conducted clinical research can help members of the public to make better-informed decisions about their healthcare, we cannot claim that any particular treatment may be effective for any individual person.
When you consult with our Chinese medicine practitioners, you’ll receive personalised advice and treatment based on your symptoms and Chinese medicine diagnosis.
Research papers
Browse our collection of scientific clinical research on acupuncture for frozen shoulder.
It includes recent and reputable papers published by peer-reviewed journals within the last 10 years.
2023, Apr 05
Traditional Chinese medicine for frozen shoulder: An evidence‐based guideline
Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine
The study concludes that a multidisciplinary guideline development panel has developed twelve recommendations for the treatment of frozen shoulder with traditional Chinese medicine, including the use of manual therapy, acupuncture, exercise therapy, and integrated TCM and Western medicine practices.
Qin X, Sun K, Ao Y, Liu J, Wang M, Deng Q, Zhong W, liu J, Sun S, Liu X, Shi B, Guan X, Du S, Zou J, Wu C, Chen F, Fang Y, Nie X, Mo W, Guo J, Zhang Y, Dong Y, Wei X, Zhu L Full Article
2023, Jan
Physiotherapy, Local Acupuncture, and Auricular Acupuncture for Frozen Shoulder
Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation
Acupuncture, particularly auricular acupuncture, is more effective in relieving pain and decreasing disability than physiotherapy. All interventions were beneficial in improving range of motion.
Hollisaz MT, Khatibi Aghda A, Asheghan M, Amanollahi A, Hashemi SE Full Article
2022, Aug 18
Electroacupuncture for the treatment of frozen shoulder: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Frontiers in Medicine
Electroacupuncture is reported to improve FS pain and function compared with control treatments. Additionally, EA can be used as an adjunct therapy for FS pain. EA could emerge as a potent intervention against FS.
Heo JW, Jo JH, Lee JJ, Kang H, Choi TY, Lee MS, Kim JI Full Article
2021, Apr 15
Effects of massage and acupuncture on the range of motion and daily living ability of patients with frozen shoulder complicated with cervical spondylosis
American Journal of Translational Research
Massage combined with acupuncture can better improve the ROM of joints and daily living ability of patients with frozen shoulder complicated with cervical spondylosis.
Liu M, Liu Y, Peng C, Wang H, Xu Y, Jiao S, Ding Y Full Article
2020, Jan
The effect of electroacupuncture merged with rehabilitation for frozen shoulder syndrome: A single-blind randomized sham-acupuncture controlled study
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
These results suggest that electroacupuncture plus rehabilitation may provide earlier pain relief for patients with frozen shoulder syndrome (FSS) and could be applied clinically.
Lo MY, Wu CH, Luh JJ, Wang TG, Fu LC, Lin JG, Lai JS Full Article
2020, Sept 25
The Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Frozen Shoulder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
In this systematic review and a meta-analysis, acupuncture had shown to be a safe treatment with a significant effect in regard to reducing pain, improving shoulder function, and flexion ROM in the short term and midterm.
Ben-Arie E, Kao PY, Lee YC, Ho WC, Chou LW, Liu HP Full Article
2017, Dec 1
Effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of shoulder pain: a systematic review of published randomised clinical trials
Physiotherapy
This study showed that acupuncture is more effective for shoulder pain than physiotherapy. It also indicated that acupuncture combined with physiotherapy or exercise was found to be more effective for frozen shoulder than physiotherapy or exercise alone in the short and long term.
A. Rubio M. Mansfield J. Lewis Full Article
2016, Jan
Investigation of the Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Frozen Shoulder
Materia Socio Medica
Acupuncture may improve shoulder motion in patients with frozen shoulder, as indicated by improved range of motion and reduced pain.
Asheghan M, Aghda A, Hashemi E, Hollisaz M Full Article
It is by virtue of the twelve channels that human life exists, that disease arises, that human beings can be treated and illness cured. The twelve channels are where beginners start and masters end.