How do you tell frozen shoulder from a rotator cuff tear?

In frozen shoulder the joint capsule has stiffened, so the arm is limited both when you lift it yourself and when someone else lifts it. In a rotator cuff tear the tendon is torn, so someone else can raise the arm to a degree but you cannot raise it on your own, and it feels as if the strength gives out at certain angles. We confirm with physical examination and ultrasound or MRI.

Does a rotator cuff tear mean immediate surgery?

We look at the size of the tear together with the pain and your activity level. A partial tear may be watched with injections and rehabilitation; a complete tear, or one that is enlarging, calls for arthroscopic repair. A tendon does not reattach on its own, so a tear left alone can grow.

Why does calcific tendinitis suddenly become so painful?

As the calcium deposited in the tendon is being absorbed by the body, an inflammatory reaction can set in and the pain rises sharply. We control the pain and, alongside it, use extracorporeal shockwave therapy and injections to help the calcium resorb.

Joint Center

Joint center

Shoulder

회전근개 파열, 오십견 등 어깨 통증의 원인을 정밀하게 확인합니다.

Joint pain has many causes — age, daily habits, injury. The Joint Center checks cartilage, ligaments and tendons with precise imaging, then builds a plan around how active you are and what you want to get back to.

Shoulder conditions

Tap a condition to read more below

어깨 질환

어깨충돌증후군은 팔을 들 때 힘줄이 어깨뼈 지붕(견봉) 아래에 끼어 부딪히며 염증이 생기는 질환입니다.

머리 위로 팔을 쓰는 동작이 많을수록 잘 생깁니다. 부딪힘이 반복되면 힘줄이 닳아 회전근개파열로 진행할 수 있어 초기에 원인 동작을 교정해야 합니다.

Pain at a certain angle when raising the arm
Tenderness at the front of the shoulder
Difficulty with overhead movement

Causes

Age-related degenerative change · Injury in sport or a traffic accident · A congenital bone deformity

How it is diagnosed

History and physical examination — The specialist takes your symptoms, medical history and daily habits, then examines you to reach a diagnosis.

X-ray — X-rays pass through the body and the differences in shadow they leave are used for diagnosis.

Ultrasound — Ultrasound uses no radiation and is quick and painless, which makes it easy on patients.

MRI — High-resolution imaging of what X-ray cannot show: soft tissue, muscle, ligament and cartilage, along with nerves and vessels.

비수술 · 시술 치료

Shoulder impingement syndrome

Manual and exercise therapy
A physiotherapist uses release techniques and joint mobilisation, guided by anatomy, to reduce pain and restore function.
Injection therapy
인체 조직을 치유, 강화시켜주는 섬유아세포의 증식을 도와 관절의 손상부위를 재생시키는 주사요법입니다.
Shockwave therapy
체외충격파 치료는 비침습적 치료로 흉터나 부작용 거의 없이 치료가 가능하며 치료시간도 짧다는 장점을 가지고 있습니다.
PRP injection
Your own blood is drawn and spun down so that only the platelet-rich plasma is kept, then injected into the damaged area. The growth factors in the platelets settle the inflammation and help the tissue recover.

Surgical treatment

Decided after consultation

Shoulder FAQ

How do you tell frozen shoulder from a rotator cuff tear?: In frozen shoulder the joint capsule has stiffened, so the arm is limited both when you lift it yourself and when someone else lifts it. In a rotator cuff tear the tendon is torn, so someone else can raise the arm to a degree but you cannot raise it on your own, and it feels as if the strength gives out at certain angles. We confirm with physical examination and ultrasound or MRI.
Does a rotator cuff tear mean immediate surgery?: We look at the size of the tear together with the pain and your activity level. A partial tear may be watched with injections and rehabilitation; a complete tear, or one that is enlarging, calls for arthroscopic repair. A tendon does not reattach on its own, so a tear left alone can grow.
Why does calcific tendinitis suddenly become so painful?: As the calcium deposited in the tendon is being absorbed by the body, an inflammatory reaction can set in and the pain rises sharply. We control the pain and, alongside it, use extracorporeal shockwave therapy and injections to help the calcium resorb.

Joint Center care pathway

Consultation and history

We go through where it hurts, your daily routine and your medical history.

Precise imaging

X-ray·초음파·MRI로 관절 내부 상태를 확인합니다.

Treatment plan

비수술 치료를 우선해 환자에 맞는 방향을 함께 정합니다.

Treatment and rehabilitation

Rehabilitation continues after treatment to get you back to daily life.

Booking and inquiries