Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a common condition that affects arm mobility. It’s marked by shoulder pain and difficulty moving the shoulder without severe discomfort. In this article, we’ll look at what causes frozen shoulder and how it’s treated.
What Causes Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder is caused by inflammation and tightening of the joint capsule in the shoulder region. The exact cause of this inflammation is still unknown, but it has been linked to certain medical conditions such as diabetes, stroke or a heart attack. In addition to these medical conditions, certain activities where arms are held in one position for a long period of time may contribute to frozen shoulder’s development. Immobilization after a rotator cuff injury or upper arm surgery can lead to frozen shoulder as well.
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Medical Treatment for Frozen Shoulder
The first line of treatment for frozen shoulder is physical therapy which includes exercises to improve the range of motion and strength of the affected area. These exercises should be prescribed by a healthcare provider who will monitor progress regularly and adjust the exercises accordingly if needed. Oral medications such as steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be prescribed if needed in order to reduce painful symptoms associated with frozen shoulder.
Injection therapy with anesthetic agents and/or corticosteroids may also be helpful in some cases of frozen shoulder in order to reduce inflammation within the joint capsule and thus restore mobility faster than with physical therapy alone. If these treatments fail or if symptoms become very severe, then surgical intervention may be required in order to release muscular tension within the joint capsule and restore range of motion back to near normal levels.
Preventing Frozen Shoulder:
The best way to prevent frozen shoulder is to ensure that any medical conditions that could potentially cause it (e.g., diabetes) are kept under control through regular doctor visits and checkups. People who have had rotator cuff injuries should ensure they receive proper follow up care so that any immobility caused by those injuries does not lead to freezing up of their shoulders due to prolonged immobilization periods afterwards. In addition, proper posture maintenance when sitting at a desk or driving can help prevent muscle tension buildup in shoulders which could perpetuate compression within joint capsules leading towards development of adhesive capsulitis later on down the road.
What Is Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a medical condition in which the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and stiff. It develops gradually over time, typically lasting anywhere from nine months to three years before fully restoring full use of the shoulder joint. During this time period, people with frozen shoulder experience intense pain and limited range of motion.
What Causes Frozen Shoulder?
The exact cause of frozen shoulder is unknown but there are various factors that could potentially increase its likelihood of occurring, such as having diabetes, suffering from fractures or dislocations in the past in the shoulders or other joints, or certain medical conditions such as rotator cuff injuries or thyroid issues. Injury, inactivity due to a prior injury (such as after surgical recovery), age (over 40 years old), gender (more likely to occur in women than men) and race (more likely to occur in persons with northern European descent) are other potential risk factors for developing frozen shoulder.
What Are the Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder?
The primary symptoms of frozen shoulder include pain or tenderness when reaching above your head or out to the side; difficulty sleeping due to discomfort at night; limited range of motion that worsens over time; recurrent episodes of tightness or stiffness in your shoulders; restricted movement when trying to move your arm away from your body; and grinding sensation when performing specific movements involving your shoulders.
How Is Frozen Shoulder Treated?
Treatment for frozen shoulders includes physical therapy modalities such as stretching exercises and massage therapy. This helps restore proper range-of-motion and reduce pain levels. In some cases depending on severity level medications may be prescribed by doctors such as oral anti-inflammatory drugs, intraarticular injections with steroid solutions and/or surgery for extremely severe cases that do not respond well to conservative treatment options .Exercise should also be performed regularly on a daily basis, under supervision by health professionals, both before therapy sessions start ,and afterwards ,to maintain acquired gains .
