Frozen shoulder is a common condition that middle-aged individuals always self-diagnose when they have shoulder pain. In this blog, we will explore this condition in more detail.
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, implies that this condition is inflammatory and causes adhesions to the shoulder joint. However, the cause of inflammation is still not fully understood. Theory suggests that the glycation end product triggers inflammatory cytokines to deposit on the shoulder joint collagen which causes inflammation and fibrosis. (The detailed pathogenesis will not be discussed here.)
Some of the risk factors for primary frozen shoulder are diabetes, thyroid disease (hyper or hypothyroidism), genetics, etc. A period of immobilization or traumatic event may also trigger a secondary frozen shoulder.
According to research, people younger than 50 years old with shoulder pain are very unlikely to have frozen shoulder. However, if you are an older female with non-traumatic shoulder pain that disturbs your sleep, this could be suggestive of a frozen shoulder.
Frozen shoulder can be classified into 3 phases.
Firstly, it is the "Freezing phase", the patient will experience intense pain that he or she cannot even sleep on the affected shoulder. However the shoulder range of motion is not affected at this stage. At this stage, physiotherapy will be focused on pain relief and keep the patient moving as tolerated.
Secondly, the "Frozen phase" is characterized by the restricted range of motion while the pain is largely reduced. The most commonly affected movements are the shoulder external rotation and abduction. At this stage, physiotherapy will be focused on restoring the shoulder range of motion and strengthening the deconditioned shoulder muscles due to chronic pain.
Finally, the "Thawing phase" is characterized by the gradual improvement in range of motion and pain. At this stage, physiotherapy will target strengthening the shoulder and help the patient to achieve their functional goals. Most of the patients who received proper physiotherapy and followed the correct advice can regain full function of their shoulders and be pain-free.
If you are suffering from a frozen shoulder, please don't hesitate to consult Zion Physiotherapy Clinic to develop a tailor-made rehabilitation plan.