Want to know more about Frozen shoulders? Here is Darren’s latest blog all about this condition…
Sometimes known as Adhesive Capsulitis or contracted shoulder, frozen shoulder is one of the leading causes of shoulder pain and is characterised by pain and decreased range of movement at the shoulder joint. For reasons which are still not fully understood the shoulder joint capsule and adjacent ligaments and bursa become fibrotic and contracted. This process develops over several stages.
Initially shoulder pain develops with a gradual loss of shoulder movement. This stage is often referred to as the freezing stage.
During the following ‘frozen’ stage at least half of normal shoulder movement is lost. During this stage it will not be possible to actively or passively move the shoulder past a certain point due to stiffness and pain.
The final stage is known as the thawing stage, this is where pain subsides and shoulder movement is gradually restored.
Frozen shoulder can be extremely debilitating, it can occur for no obvious reason or underlying cause, or as a result of trauma, surgery or prolonged immobilisation. Other causes of secondary frozen shoulder can be related to your general health. Conditions such as thyroid disease, autoimmune disease and diabetes have all been strongly linked with the development of frozen shoulder.
Given the above you can reduce your risk of developing frozen shoulder by ensuring that you do not spend long periods with your shoulder immobilised, particularly after upper limb injury or surgery (contact us here at Great Northern Physiotherapy or alternatively seek advice from your healthcare professional regarding this). A healthy lifestyle can also reduce your risk, as conditions such as diabetes have been linked to increased risk of developing frozen shoulder.
As mentioned above Frozen Shoulder typically goes through a number of stages and overall the process can take several years to resolve. However there are a number of treatment options available which can stimulate a speedier improvement in symptoms. Recent research has supported the use of corticosteroid injections as a first line treatment. Studies have shown that an inflammatory process occurs in the initial stages of frozen shoulder. As corticosteroids act as a powerful local anti-inflammatory, they can help to reduce pain and disability caused by frozen shoulder in the long term, particularly if administered within the first year of onset. A number of studies have also shown the benefit of acupuncture as a safe and effective treatment. Physiotherapy either in isolation or combined with the above treatments has also been found to be a beneficial treatment, using a combination of therapeutic exercise and soft tissue work and targeted joint mobilisations to to help promote pain relief and improved movement. Furthermore, in addition to the treatments above, here at Great Northern Physiotherapy we also offer shoulder hydrodilatation which involves an injection of a mixture of saline solution, corticosteroid and local anaesthetic directly into the shoulder joint under ultrasound guidance, this process subsequently stretches the structures that are restricting movement in the shoulder joint and reduces inflammation. Hydrodilatation has been shown to improve pain and range of movement.
For further information on frozen shoulder or to discuss any of the tips or treatments in more detail , please contact us.
Darren Warr is a Chartered Physiotherapist and First Contact Practitioner for Great Northern Physiotherapy. He holds clinics on Tuesdays at Great Northern and specialises in Musculoskeletal assessment and treatment. To book an appointment click here