Frozen Shoulder Syndrome

Frozen shoulder syndrome, also known as adhesive capsulitis, occurs when a shoulder joint becomes so stiff that it is restricted in movement. Everyday tasks like brushing your hair will be difficult to perform. Various causes and risk factors for frozen shoulder should be monitored. This condition can last only a few months or up to two years.

Causes

• A frozen shoulder is caused by both biological and physical factors. Individuals with diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, or Parkinson's disease are at an increased risk of developing a frozen shoulder. Frozen Shoulder Syndrome occurs more often in middle-age adults, and more frequently in women than men. Adhesive capsulitis can also be caused by surgery or an injury that does not allow for a shoulder to move. If a shoulder joint is not being used, it will start to stiffen up and may cause adhesive capsulitis.

Diagnosis

• When a limitation in shoulder joint movement is suspected, a checkup with the doctor is a must. Although symptoms are a good indicator of Frozen Shoulder Syndrome, a professional's diagnosis is necessary before any physical treatment is done. At the appointment, either the patient or doctor will attempt movement of the joint. Alternative causes of shoulder discomfort will also be investigated, such as potential diseases. Most likely, an x-ray or MRI will be performed on the shoulder.

Symptoms

• Adhesive capsulitis will start with shoulder discomfort. The shoulder discomfort will increase gradually from small amounts of joint pain until it is no longer bearable to move. There are three stages of Frozen Shoulder Syndrome. The first is the painful stage. This stage will have the most amount of pain. The shoulder will not yet lose all of its range of motion. The next stage is the frozen stage, where the pain will decrease as the stiffness as well as the range of movement. The last stage is the thawing stage. This is when the ongoing recovery will happen.

Prevention and Relief

• Early treatment will help reduce the amount of pain and discomfort in the shoulder joint. Specific shoulder exercises and stretches suggested by a professional can be performed to loosen your stiff joint. Along with prescribed exercises and physical therapy, other things can be done to calm the pain caused by a frozen shoulder. Applying heat or cold and taking pain medication can help soothe the discomfort.

Treatment

• After an appointment for a diagnosis, the doctor will decide the best route for recovery. Some options are physical therapy or surgery. Physical therapy at home and at a professional office is the typical route. Only when a frozen shoulder is showing no signs of improvement through therapy would surgery be considered. The surgery would involve numbing the joint with anesthesia and loosening up the joint by moving the shoulder.