December 20, 2022
What Is Frozen Shoulder & How Is It Cured
written by: KEFI Wellness
Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, involves stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. Signs and symptoms typically begin slowly, then get gradually worse.
Treatment for frozen shoulder involves range-of-motion exercises. Treatment can also involve corticosteroids and numbing medications injected into the joint. In worst scenarios, arthroscopic surgery is needed to loosen the joint capsule so that it can move more freely.
Symptoms & Stages For Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder typically develops slowly in three stages.
- Freezing stage. Any movement of the shoulder causes pain, and the shoulder’s ability to move becomes limited. This stage lasts from 2 to 9 months.
- Frozen stage. Pain might lessen during this stage. However, the shoulder becomes stiffer. Using it becomes more difficult. This stage lasts from 4 to 12 months.
- Thawing stage. The shoulder’s ability to move begins to improve. This stage lasts from 5 to 24 months.
Diagnosis
During the physical exam, a health care provider might ask you to move your arm in certain ways. This is to check for pain and see how far you can move your arm (active range of motion). Then you might be asked to relax your muscles while the provider moves your arm (passive range of motion). Frozen shoulder affects both active and passive range of motion.
Frozen shoulder can usually be diagnosed from signs and symptoms alone. But imaging tests, such as X-rays, ultrasound or MRI, can rule out other problems.
Different Treatments
Physiotherapy
A physical therapist can teach you range-of-motion exercises to help recover your shoulder movement. Your commitment to doing these exercises is necessary to regain as much movement as possible. Most frozen shoulder treatment involves controlling shoulder pain and preserving as much range of motion in the shoulder as possible. Book an appointment with your physiotherapist at Kefi Wellness to address any concerns you may have.
Chiropractor Appointments
One common chiropractic technique used to treat frozen shoulder is the Niel Asher Technique. It involves the manipulation of the joints and muscle tissues. The chiropractor applies pressure and stretches key points to help reduce pain and resolve the condition. In addition, chiropractors can use shockwave therapy and dry needling to decrease pain and inflammation in the shoulder joint. Both of these treatments can be done in conjunction with physiotherapy to accelerate healing.
Massage therapy
Deep tissue massage can be helpful in the treatment of frozen shoulder, your massage therapist can manipulate the muscles and tissue to improve movement of the shoulder joint. Adhesive capsulitis improves with massage therapy which helps to relieve tension and tightness so your muscles can relax. It also may help improve blood flow to the affected area and reduce inflammation.
Medications
Pain relievers such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) can help reduce pain and inflammation associated with frozen shoulder. In some cases, a health care provider might prescribe stronger pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Visit us at Kefi Wellness to address any concerns you may have with this condition. Our massage therapists, physiotherapists and chiropractors will be happy to help!
Resources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15359-frozen-shoulder
