Frozen shoulder is one of the most painful conditions we treat — and one of the most misunderstood.

In Part 1 of our frozen shoulder series, orthopedic surgeons Dr. Caleb Davis and Dr. Justin Givens break down what adhesive capsulitis really is, why it happens, and why it can derail your life for months or even years.

We cover:

• What frozen shoulder actually is (and why it’s not really “frozen”)
• The classic progression: freezing → frozen → thawing
• The key exam finding that confirms the diagnosis
• Why diabetes, thyroid disease, menopause, and high cholesterol increase risk
• The metabolic and inflammatory drivers behind the condition
• Why diabetics often have the most severe and longest-lasting cases
• Why it eventually gets better — but takes patience and strategy

If your shoulder pain started out of nowhere, keeps getting worse, and your motion is disappearing, this episode will help you understand exactly what’s happening inside your joint.

🎙 The Shoulder Blueprint — patient education from real shoulder surgeons.

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CrossFit gets blamed for a lot of shoulder injuries — but the real story is more complicated.

In this episode of The Shoulder Blueprint Podcast, orthopedic shoulder surgeon Dr. Caleb Davis sits down with physical therapist Luke Bram to break down what’s actually safe in CrossFit, what quietly destroys joints, and how to train for long-term shoulder health.

This is a practical, no-nonsense conversation for lifters, athletes, coaches, and anyone who wants their shoulders to still work decades from now.

We cover:

• Why CrossFit gets so much hate — and when it’s deserved

• The real injury drivers: fatigue, ego lifting, and poor recovery

• How training needs to change after 25, 30, and 40

• When Olympic lifts build power — and when they become dangerous

• Why tendons fail even when muscles feel strong

• How slow eccentric training helps treat tendonitis and prevent injury

• The role of wearables (WHOOP, Oura) in smarter recovery decisions

We also dive into modern rehab and sports medicine:

• Dry needling, cupping, electrical stimulation, and blood flow restriction

• What these modalities do, when they help, and when they don’t

• Why steroids and anti-inflammatories don’t heal tissue — but can help you rehab

• How surgeons and physical therapists decide when surgery is necessary

Plus:

• Shoulder instability and labrum injuries

• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis): phases, night pain, injections, therapy, and surgery

• Why diabetes makes frozen shoulder harder to treat

Educational only. Not medical advice.

In this episode of The Shoulder Blueprint, Dr. Caleb Davis is joined by physical therapist Luke Brohm, PT, DPT, OCS to break down what physical therapy really looks like for shoulder injuries and when surgery is actually necessary.They discuss why many patients are told they have a “rotator cuff problem” when the real issue is poor scapular control, how physical therapy addresses shoulder pain at its root, and how PT and orthopedic surgery work together to get patients back to living pain-free.This episode covers:-The most common shoulder problems seen in physical therapy clinics-Why scapular dyskinesia is often the real cause of shoulder pain-When physical therapy works and when surgery is the right option-How imaging findings don’t always explain pain-Injury prevention tips for lifting, daily life, and long-term shoulder health-What “prehab” is and why it improves surgical outcomesWhether you’re dealing with shoulder pain, trying to avoid surgery, or just want to understand how the shoulder actually works, this episode offers clear, practical insight from both a surgeon and a physical therapist.🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes covering shoulder injuries, treatment options, and injury prevention.📩 Questions or topic requests? Email info@calebdavismd.com