Frozen Shoulder

Also known as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder typically presents as pain and stiffness of the shoulder that begins slowly but gets progressively worse. Pain or stiffness with internal rotation, such as placing your hand on your low back, is often the first complaint of patients suffering from frozen shoulder.

The stiffness may make it difficult for you to do everyday tasks, such as driving, dressing or sleeping. You may also have difficulty scratching your back or putting your hand in your back pocket.

The pain usually comes on gradually, and is often worse when you move your shoulder joint. It may also be worse at night.

Signs and symptoms

The most obvious symptoms are pain and joint stiffness which may lead to insomnia. Patients cannot perform actions like raising hands, combing hair, wearing clothes and hand behind back.

肩周炎初期症狀並不明顯，若發現肩痛，患者可以先自行進行五十肩檢查肩周炎測試，了解肩關節的活動角度。如果手臂不能舉起至過頭位置，或不能將手屈至背部中央，便有可能患上肩周炎。如有懷疑便要立即求醫，及早進行治療，盡快減低對日常生活的影響及舒緩疼痛。

自我檢查肩周炎

Examination for early treatment

Spine and Physiotherapist will do an examination of the shoulder and the spine determine if the diagnosis is frozen shoulder. The range of motion will be tested laterally raising the arm to the side and raising the arm forward in the sagittal plane. Raising the arm to the back is not as restricted or as noticeable for the patient.

What causes frozen shoulders?

Frozen shoulder may be idiopathic. The exact reason why frozen shoulder develops is not known at present. It’s thought to be caused by inflammation of your shoulder joint and its surrounding capsule. Frozen shoulder can sometimes develop if you have had a shoulder injury, such as a fracture, or if you have had surgery on your shoulder.

After the examination, the Spine and Physiotherapist may adjust the spine and then the shoulder.Some of the frozen shoulder adjustments may be painful if no anesthesia is used, even though Spine and Physiotherapy adjustments in general are not painful.

However, adjustments for frozen shoulder will give the greatest amount of correction in the first visit. A short and sharp increase in pain may be felt directly after the adjustment, but the pain will calm down in a few minutes. After the pain subsides, the Spine and Physiotherapist will again test the range of motion, which can improve as much as 50% or more after the first visit with certain Spine and Physiotherapist.

Typically, the pain will be less severe than before the adjustment. The Spine and Physiotherapist will then recommended some exercises, which will also improve the effectiveness of the Spine and Physiotherapy adjustments.

1. Shoulder pain is most often caused by subluxations in the neck. Neck pain and stiffness is commonly associated with this condition confirming the neck problem. Without treating the cause adequately, often in the neck, NECK PAIN TREATMENT, all other treatment options are slow and dependent on the body's natural recuperative powers.With no treatment at all this condition usually resolves within three years, owing to this natural healing power of the body.

2. Movement. The worst treatment of this condition is immobilisation, as in a sling. It rapidly worsens the pain and stiffness. A gentle set of stretches for the FS, done frequently, numerous times a day, is an essential part of the Spine and Physiotherapy care. As the movement returns, and the pain lessens, active rehab exercises, ROTATOR CUFF STRENGTHENING are essential.

3. Key to shoulder treatment is mobilisation and/or adjusting the Acromio Clavicular joint. The earlier the diagnosis is made and start treatment, the better the prognosis would be. Patients should comply to the treatment protocol so as to maximize the treatment effects.