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Frozen Shoulder: A simple but complete guide


Frozen shoulder is also called Adhesive Capsulitis. This condition worsens over time and is relieved within one to three years. Shoulder movements restrict and loss in the range of motion to occur in this condition. People 40 to 60 years of age are prone to it. 

Frozen Shoulder Causes:

We all know that our shoulder joint is surrounded by a capsule. This capsule becomes thick, inflamed, and stiff if not used much. Lack of use tight the capsule and create difficulty in movement. The capsule contains a ligament and this ligament holds the shoulder joint in place. 

Frozen Shoulder Symptoms:

  • Pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint.
  • Pain worsens and makes it difficult to sleep.  
There are three stages of frozen shoulder .i.e. freezing, frozen, and thawing. 

Freezing Stage:
The freezing stage lasts from six weeks to nine months. The patient slowly develops more pain in this stage. The shoulder's range of motion decreases with the worsening of pain. 

Frozen Stage:
Symptoms are improved in this stage, but stiffness does not. The patient feels difficulty in daily activities and it lasts from 4 to 12 months.

Thawing Stage:
The shoulder's range of motion starts improving in this condition. 

Who is at risk and what are frozen shoulder causes?
Age: People from 40 to 60 years of age have more risk of developing frozen shoulder.

Gender: Women have more ratio than men.

Immobility: People who do not move the shoulder as much, then their shoulder becomes immobile. People with immobility have more risk of developing frozen shoulders.

Disease: People with these diseases have more risk:
  • Diabetes
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Tuberculosis
  • Parkinson's disease
How to treat frozen shoulder?
The first and foremost treatment is to relieve the pain of a patient. And for that doctor recommend hot and cold compressors, NSAID drugs, and physiotherapy. The role of a physiotherapist is to maintain range of motion.

Medicine: Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are NSAIDs ( Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs). These drugs are given to reduce the pain. In more severe pain and more swelling, steroid injections are given. 


Physiotherapy of Frozen Shoulder:
Physiotherapy of frozen shoulder is also a first-line treatment. The goal of physiotherapy is to restore the movements so the individual can perform daily activities. Once the physiotherapist identifies a patient's stage, he creates a specific exercise program for that patient. Following are different physiotherapy techniques for different stages:

Stage One:
If a patient is diagnosed with stage one, then the role of a physical therapist is to reduce the pain and maintain the range of motion as much as possible. For that, he preferred range of motion exercises and manual therapy techniques. 

Modalities: Physiotherapists use a hot pad, cold pad, and TENS. These modalities help in relaxing the muscles. 

Stage Two: 
The principal aim of the physiotherapist is to reduce the stiffness in this phase. He will suggest some exercise program to move the ball and socket joint. He can also perform a passive range of motion.

Stage Three:
In this phase, the physiotherapist recommends strengthening and stretching exercises. The patient gets a full range of motion and perform more mobility exercise. Some of the stretching exercises are mentioned below:
  • Pendulum Stretch
  • Towel Stretch
  • Finger walk
  • Cross-body reach
  • Armpit Stretch
Conclusion:
This article covered detailed information on frozen shoulder. This article is written in a way that a student of physiotherapy can understand the basics of frozen shoulder. This is just a basic detail and for complete and deep knowledge of frozen shoulder, I will recommend other articles. We have covered the occurrence, symptoms, stages, risk factors, and treatment of the frozen shoulder. If you want to ask or add some more information, please mention it in the comment box.


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