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Frozen Shoulder

Are you feeling the pinch of shoulder stiffness and relentless pain, especially when the sun sets?

You might be struggling with the notorious frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis – a condition that’s not just a pain in the shoulder but a puzzle of uncertain origin. Frozen shoulder is a condition marked by significant restriction of shoulder motion without a known intrinsic shoulder disorder.

What Are Different Types of Adhesive Capsulitis?

Frozen shoulder is categorized into two distinct types: Primary and Secondary adhesive capsulitis.

Primary Frozen Shoulder:

Primary adhesive capsulitis is a condition where the specific causes remain elusive. It is often called idiopathic frozen shoulder. Diseases like diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular issues, or neurological disorders could be the reason behind the primary frozen shoulder. Individuals with diabetes face a threefold higher risk of falling victim to adhesive capsulitis compared to the general population. This enigmatic condition may target both shoulders, though not necessarily simultaneously, and often proves resistant to conventional treatments.

Secondary Frozen Shoulder:

Secondary adhesive capsulitis develops from a known cause, like the aftermath of a shoulder injury, surgery, or an extended period of immobilization. Unlike its elusive primary counterpart, it’s the result of a clear chain of events.

Understanding the difference between primary and secondary adhesive capsulitis is crucial for tailored and effective treatment. Whether you find yourself entangled in the enigma of primary adhesive capsulitis or grappling with the aftermath of a shoulder injury, knowledge is the key to unlocking relief and reclaiming your shoulder’s freedom of movement.

What Are Different Frozen Shoulder Stages?

Freezing Stage (2-9 months):

  • Gradual onset of severe shoulder pain, often worsening at night.
  • Initial signs of restricted motion, especially in external rotation and abduction.
  • Patients experience increasing discomfort during this phase.

Frozen Stage (4-12 months):

  • Progressive loss of glenohumeral flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation.
  • Shoulder pain begins to subside, but the limited range of motion persists.
  • Lasts for several months, marking a period of adhesive restriction.

Thawing Stage (5-26 months):

  • Gradual return of range of motion.
  • Shoulder functionality improves, but patience is key during this slow recovery phase.
  • Complete restoration of movement may take months to achieve.

Knowing about these stages is crucial for effective physiotherapy treatments tailored to each phase. Early diagnosis and targeted treatment contribute significantly to a smoother recovery journey.

Know About Different Risk Factors Associated With Frozen Shoulder

Diabetes Mellitus: Individuals with diabetes mellitus face a pronounced risk, with a threefold higher likelihood of developing adhesive capsulitis. The intricate relationship between diabetes and frozen shoulder highlights the importance of managing systemic health in preventing this condition.

Cardiovascular and Neurological Disorders: Cardiovascular and neurological disorders also emerge as influential players in the risk of frozen shoulder problems. This systemic impact underscores the need to understand health conditions beyond the musculoskeletal domain comprehensively.

Thyroid Disorders: Patients with thyroid diseases find themselves at a high risk. The intricate relation of hormonal imbalances associated with thyroid disorders further emphasizes the systemic nature of factors contributing to adhesive capsulitis.

Uncommon Events: Beyond systemic considerations, events such as shoulder injuries, surgeries, or prolonged immobilization act as catalysts for secondary adhesive capsulitis. Recognizing these events as potential risk factors is crucial for preemptive strategies and targeted physiotherapy interventions.

How To Diagnose a Frozen Shoulder Problem?

If you are struggling with a stiff shoulder, it’s important to confirm whether you have frozen shoulder disease.

Clinical Examination Mastery: Diagnosing a frozen shoulder begins with a thorough clinical examination. Physiotherapy practitioners at Dhanwala Naturo & Physio Care adeptly assess the range of motion, identifying the characteristic limitations in abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation that hallmark this condition.

Radiographic Precision: Radiographic evaluations, including X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), play a pivotal role. These diagnostic tools allow us to delve deeper, ruling out other potential causes and honing in on the specific changes within the shoulder capsule indicative of adhesive capsulitis.

Patient History: Patient history unravels crucial threads in the diagnostic tapestry. Understanding symptoms’ onset, duration, and progression, coupled with exploring underlying health conditions such as diabetes or thyroid disorders, enhances our diagnostic acumen.

Dynamic Stages Recognition: Crucial to accurate diagnosis is recognizing the dynamic stages of a frozen shoulder – the freezing, frozen, and thawing phases. This nuanced understanding allows us to tailor interventions based on the evolving nature of the condition, ensuring precision in our approach.

By working closely with our patients, we ensure a comprehensive diagnostic approach. This collaboration enriches our understanding, enabling us to provide personalized and effective physiotherapy interventions for frozen shoulder patients.

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Get Physiotherapy for Frozen Shoulder

We understand the relentless pain and stiffness of a frozen shoulder. Dhanwala Physio Care is the right place to enjoy the journey toward relief and recovery.

Our frozen shoulder physiotherapy treatment includes:

  • Resistance Training Exercises
  • Swimming or Aerobic Activity
  • Massage
  • Heat Pads and Icing

This inflammatory condition leads to fibrosis of the glenohumeral (GH) joint capsule, resulting in a gradual increase in stiffness and a notable limitation of range of motion, especially in external rotation.

We Use the Right Physiotherapy Technique

If shoulder pain persists or symptoms don’t improve within three weeks, a physician should consider recommending physiotherapy. Frozen shoulder PT treatment involves a combination of physical therapy, medication, and stretching. The goal is to restore normal shoulder function, alleviating pain and stiffness associated with adhesive capsulitis.

An effective arm movement technique is maintaining the same arm swing speed at rest for five seconds, followed by vigorous back-and-forth arm swings for ten seconds. This pattern should be repeated ten times, transitioning to stretches once the patient is adequately warmed up.

Use of Manipulation and Mobilisation Techniques

Physiotherapists employ manipulation and/or mobilization techniques to alleviate pain, enhance range of motion, and improve overall function in frozen shoulder cases. These techniques facilitate the return of muscles, connective tissues, and joints to their normal positions.

Manipulation and mobilization quickly relieve pressure caused by pain, addressing trigger points in shoulder muscles and restoring them to their original state. The therapy involves stretching and releasing the shoulder capsule, contributing to pain reduction, improved range of motion, and enhanced flexibility.

This therapeutic approach is crafted to elongate the upper arm, allowing for a full circle of motion. It presents a natural and comfortable alternative for treating frozen shoulder, surpassing the need for surgery or pharmaceutical interventions.

Exercise Therapy Programme For Frozen Shoulder

Patients often experience relief through physiotherapy by engaging in a series of exercises. These frozen shoulder physiotherapy exercises should emphasize enhancing both the range of motion and the strength of the muscles surrounding the shoulder. It is recommended to perform these physio exercises two to three times a day, each session lasting twenty to forty minutes. Additionally, patients are advised to incorporate warm-up and stretching routines before initiating any exercises.

Various exercise programs designed to alleviate frozen shoulder include stretching, flowing movements, pilates, hand exercises, walking, water exercises, and cycling. These diverse activities contribute to the overall effectiveness of the physiotherapeutic approach, promoting recovery and improved shoulder functionality.

Other Customized Frozen Shoulder Therapies

At Surbhi Dhanwala Physio Care, we analyze the existing condition of our patients and create customized treatments to alleviate pain and facilitate the healing process. You can connect with us to schedule a visit and acknowledge what treatment best suits your existing health issue.

Physical therapy treatment offers effective relief from frozen shoulder pain symptoms, but it’s crucial for patients to recognize that it shouldn’t be considered a permanent solution. While six to nine months of physiotherapy often leads to the complete subsiding of frozen shoulder symptoms, the pain tends to return with increased severity over time. Consequently, patients need to persist with physiotherapy until symptoms are entirely resolved. This doesn’t imply giving up on physiotherapy altogether. Instead, ongoing physiotherapy remains crucial to any long-term shoulder pain management plan.

So, if you are struggling with a frozen shoulder, Dhanwala Naturo & Physio Care is the right place to experience improvement. Just one visit can deliver an exceptional change in your health issue.

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