Pain conditions explained honestly & when to get help
Polymyalgia Rheumatica: The Over-60 Shoulder-and-Hip Stiffness Doctors Can Treat
5-minute read · Published October 1, 2025 · Updated October 1, 2025
Why this happens
PMR is linked to inflammation in the muscles and soft tissues around the shoulders and hips. The exact cause is not fully understood (evidence varies, so ask your clinician). Many people describe waking up stiff, needing a few minutes to loosen up, and finding that both sides of the body feel sore.
Because the symptoms overlap with other problems, the first job is a proper assessment. A doctor will ask about your symptoms, examine you and may order blood tests. You should not try to diagnose yourself from a list of symptoms online.
Frozen shoulder is a different condition, but it can also cause stiffness. It happens when scar tissue builds up in the joint capsule and limits both active and passive movement [R18]. Only a clinician can tell which condition, if either, is behind your symptoms.
What the research says
- Research does not support waiting out a frozen shoulder: in one systematic review, untreated cases improved only partly after one to four years, so have it assessed by a clinician [R19].
- Most shoulder pain is managed in primary care, with advice and exercise. Pain that follows an injury, or pain in several joints at once, needs a proper diagnosis [R30].
- Gentle activity is recommended for older adults in general. Guidelines say every move counts [R07].
- The research on PMR itself is outside the sources used for this guide. Your clinician is the right source for the current treatment options (evidence varies, so ask your clinician).
What you can do
- Book a visit with your family doctor. Describe when the stiffness is worst, how long it lasts in the morning, whether it eases during the day, and whether both shoulders or both hips are affected.
- Keep a simple symptom diary. Note the date, a pain score from 0 (none) to 10 (worst), how long your morning stiffness lasts and what helps. Bring it to your appointment.
- Ask about red flags. Ask your clinician which symptoms mean you should call back sooner.
- Ask about gentle movement. Seated, light arm movements within a comfortable range are a fair question to ask your clinician. Do not start a routine on your own.
- Do not start, stop or change medicine on your own. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor first, especially if you take blood thinners or other medication.
- Ask what success looks like. Ask your clinician what improvement should look like and when you should call back if it does not happen.
Where ShoulderBack Pro fits — and where it doesn't
ShoulderBack Pro does not fit this topic. PMR is an inflammatory condition that needs a doctor's assessment first, and a movement trainer is not a substitute for that. Once you have a diagnosis, our routines page is general everyday movement only, to use if your clinician agrees.
Related reading: for a general guide to when to get help, see shoulder pain: when to see a doctor and when to wait. You can also read shoulder pain in both shoulders, and when it might be inflammatory and why frozen shoulder is not a pass-on-its-own problem.
When to see a professional
See a doctor or physiotherapist promptly if you have: pain after a fall or injury with sudden weakness or loss of movement; a shoulder that looks deformed, very swollen or bruised; fever or feeling unwell alongside the pain; chest pain or breathlessness (call emergency services); constant pain that doesn't change with rest or activity; pain that wakes you most nights; numbness, tingling or weakness into the arm or hand; pain in several joints at once; or pain that hasn't improved after a couple of weeks of sensible self-care [R30].
A doctor diagnoses PMR, usually after a history, an examination and blood tests (evidence varies, so ask your clinician). A physiotherapist can help with movement once a diagnosis is made.
Try this movement
Windshield Wipers (rotator cuff, slow rotation) →Frequently asked questions
Is polymyalgia rheumatica the same as a frozen shoulder?
No, but they can feel alike. Frozen shoulder is a condition of the joint capsule that causes pain and loss of movement [R18]. Only a clinician can tell the two apart.
Can it get better on its own?
Do not assume it will. For frozen shoulder, the evidence does not support waiting it out [R19]. For PMR, ask your doctor what to expect and what to watch for.
Should I start an exercise routine?
Gentle activity is generally encouraged for older adults [R07], but get a diagnosis first. Do not choose a routine for a condition you have not had assessed.
Who should I call first?
Start with your family doctor. For sudden severe symptoms, chest pain or breathlessness, call emergency services.
Sources
- WHO (2020). Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2020/11/26/new-global-guidelines-on-physical-activity-and-sedentary-behavio.html
- Le HV, Lee SJ, Nazarian A, Rodriguez EK (2017). Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: review of pathophysiology and current clinical treatments. Shoulder & Elbow 9(2):75-84. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28405218/
- Wong CK et al. (2017). Natural history of frozen shoulder: fact or fiction? A systematic review. Physiotherapy 103(1):40-47. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27641499/
- NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Shoulder red flags; NHS MPFT self-help, Shoulder pain; BESS/BOA pathway summary (2021). https://www.nhsggc.scot/page_category/services/page/33
