Is Frozen Shoulder causing you pain?

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition which presents with stiffness, reduced movement and pain in the shoulder joint. The shoulder joint consists of bones, ligaments, and tendons which are all enclosed in a capsule. Frozen shoulder can occur for a range of reasons including when the tissue in the shoulder joint becomes thick and tight, limiting the range of motion. 

Different factors may increase your risk of developing frozen shoulder. People 40 years and older are more likely to develop frozen shoulder and women are more commonly affected by frozen shoulder than men. A long period of inactivity caused by rotator cuff injury, fractures, stroke or recovery from surgery can cause inflammation leading to a frozen shoulder. People who have certain diseases (Parkinson’s disease, Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease, Tuberculosis, etc.) are at a higher risk of developing frozen shoulder. 

Frozen shoulder tends to get worse over time when it is not treated. Symptoms are usually classified in the following stages:

1. Freezing stage - Over time pain increases (especially at night) causing shoulder motion to be limited and reducing function of the arm. The freezing stage can last 6 weeks to 9 months.
2.  Frozen stage - The initial pain decreases but movement continues to be restricted and the shoulder may become stiff. The frozen stage can last from 4 to 6 months.
3. Thawing stage - The pain fades but may reoccur at any time. Movement gets easier and may eventually return to normal. The thawing stage can last 6 months to 2 years.

“In many cases, physical therapy is all that’s needed to treat frozen shoulder (Torborg 2018).” Physical therapy is the most popular treatment for managing a frozen shoulder. At Reddy Care Physical, Occupational and Aquatic Therapy, your physical therapist will evaluate your shoulders range of motion to provide you with a unique treatment plan. Your treatment plan may include stretching techniques, strengthening exercises, manual therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, laser therapy and heat and ice modalities to help restore the shoulder’s mobility and range of motion.

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Sources: 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frozen-shoulder/symptoms-causes/syc-20372684

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-treatment-for-frozen-shoulder/

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Written by:

Dr. Vinod Somareddy, PT, DPT

President & Owner

Reddy Care Physical Therapy

Reddy Care Occupational Therapy

Reddy Care Aquatic Therapy

Author

Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy is an outstanding specialty service providing exceptional care and state-of-the-art treatments for the residents of Farmingdale and Great Neck, New York. The combination of innovative exercise programs, manual therapy, and technology together with the expertise of every member of the team enables Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy to provide services that ensure superior clinical outcomes and consistently high patient satisfaction.