Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that affects your shoulder joint with common symptoms such as pain or stiffness to accompany it as you move your arm around. It feels like your shoulder is “frozen” in place.
The condition typically develops gradually over time and can be categorised into three stages. In the first stage, you tend to notice that your shoulder becomes increasingly stiff and painful. In the second stage, the pain may decrease, but the stiffness remains, and you’ll find it difficult to move your arm in different ranges of motion. In the final stage, your shoulder will gradually regain its range of motion, and the pain will go away. We go into more detail of the three stages below:
1. Freezing Stage (Painful Stage)
- Duration: This stage can last from 6 weeks to 9 months.
- Symptoms: The shoulder becomes increasingly painful and stiff. Pain is typically worse at night and can interfere with sleep. The range of motion in the shoulder is restricted.
- Cause: Inflammation in the shoulder capsule, the connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint, leads to pain and stiffness. The exact cause of this inflammation is often unknown but may be related to an injury, overuse, or an underlying health condition.
2. Frozen Stage (Adhesive Stage)
- Duration: This stage can last from 4 to 12 months.
- Symptoms: Pain may start to diminish during this stage, but the shoulder remains very stiff. The range of motion is significantly limited, affecting daily activities.
- Cause: The shoulder capsule thickens and tightens around the shoulder joint, restricting movement. Scar tissue forms, and synovial fluid, which normally lubricates the joint, decreases, contributing to stiffness.
3. Thawing Stage (Recovery Stage)
- Duration: This stage can last from 6 months to 2 years.
- Symptoms: Gradual improvement in the range of motion and reduction in pain. The shoulder slowly regains movement as the stiffness decreases.
- Cause: The shoulder capsule gradually loosens and stretches, allowing for more movement. The body slowly heals the inflammation and resolves the scar tissue.
Reasons How Frozen Shoulder Can Develop
Frozen shoulder can happen due to various reasons including:
- Injury
- Surgery
- Keeping your shoulder immobilized for an extended period.
- The cause for it is not fully understood. However, those with diabetes, those who have been immobilised, and those who are suffering from other diseases such as Parkinson’s, are at a greater risk.
The good news is that there are treatment options available to help you manage the pain and regain the use of your shoulder. Physiotherapy, medication, and in severe cases, surgery can all be effective ways to treat the symptoms of frozen shoulder. Contact us for a physiotherapy appointment.
How can Physiotherapy help a frozen shoulder?
Physio therapy can help in a number of ways for a frozen shoulder:
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Pain Management
- Modalities: Techniques like heat, cold therapy, ultrasound, and TENS reduce pain and inflammation.
- Manual Therapy: Gentle mobilization and manipulation alleviate pain by improving joint mechanics and reducing stiffness.
-
Improving Range of Motion
- Stretching Exercises: Specific exercises (pendulum, cross-body, towel stretches) gradually increase shoulder motion.
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Strengthening Exercises
- Isometric Exercises: Contracting muscles without joint movement maintains strength without pain.
- Progressive Resistance Exercises: Using bands or weights to strengthen shoulder muscles as mobility improves.
- Manual Therapy
- Joint Mobilisations: Gentle movements to improve joint mechanics and mobility.
- Soft Tissue Mobilisation: Massage and myofascial release reduce muscle tension and improve flexibility.
- Education and Home Exercise Program
- Self-management Techniques: Education on proper posture, activity modification, and ergonomics.
- Home Exercise Program: Exercises to maintain progress and prevent recurrence.
- Functional Training
- Activity Modification: Adjusting daily activities to reduce strain on the shoulder.
- Functional Exercises: Exercises that mimic daily activities to regain shoulder use.
- Progressive Rehabilitation
- Gradual Progression: Tailored program focusing on pain relief and safe stretching early, progressing to more aggressive stretching and strengthening.
- Monitoring and Adjustment: Regular assessments ensure effective treatments and adjustments.
- Preventing Recurrence
- Long-term Exercise Plan: Provide a longer-term maintenance plan for shoulder mobility and strength.
- Education on Risk Factors: Develop a tailored strategy to prevent recurrence, such as avoiding prolonged immobilisation and managing underlying conditions.
Booking a Physiotherapy Appointment
Inspire Healthcare are a multi-disciplinary professional healthcare agency, book an appointment with a mobile NDIS Physiotherapist in Sydney or a Physiotherapist in Melbourne.