09/01/2018
It is also known as adhesive capsulitis.
The term "frozen shoulder" is often used incorrectly for arthritis, but these two conditions are unrelated.
Frozen shoulder refers specifically to the shoulder joint, while arthritis may refer to other or multiple joints.
It commonly affects people aged between 40 and 60 years, and it is more likely in women than in men. It is estimated to affect about 3 percent of people.
It can affect one or both shoulders.
Common risk factors for frozen shoulder are:
Age: Being over 40 years of age.
Gender: 70 percent of people with frozen shoulder are women.
Recent trauma: Surgery or and arm fracture can lead to immobility during recovery, and this may cause the shoulder capsule to stiffen.
Diabetes: 10 to 20 percent of people with diabetes develop frozen shoulder, and symptoms may be more severe. The reasons are unclear
Other conditions that can increase the risk are:
stroke
hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid
hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid
cardiovascular disease
Parkinson's disease
Stages
Symptoms are usually classified in three stages, as they worsen gradually and then resolve within a 2- to 3-year period.
The AAOS describes three stages:
Freezing, or painful stage: Pain increases gradually, making shoulder motion harder and harder. Pain tends to be worse at night. This stage can last from 6 weeks to 9 months.
Frozen: Pain does not worsen, and it may decrease at this stage. The shoulder remains stiff. It can last from 4 to 6 months, and movement may be restricted.
Thawing: Movement gets easier and may eventually return to normal. Pain may fade but occasionally recur. This takes between 6 months and 2 years.
Over 90 percent of people find that with simple exercises and pain control, symptoms improve. A frozen shoulder normally recovers, but it can take 3 years.
Diagnosis
Doctors will most likely diagnose frozen shoulder based on signs, symptoms, and a physical exam, paying close attention to the arms and shoulders.
The severity of frozen shoulder is determined by a basic test in which a doctor presses and moves certain parts of the arm and shoulder.
Structural problems can only be identified with the help of imaging tests, such as an X-ray or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Physiotherapy Treatment
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): This works by numbing the nerve endings in the spinal cord that control pain. The TENS machine sends small to electrodes, or small electric pads, that are applied to the skin on the affected shoulder.
Physical therapy: This can provide training in exercises to maintain as much mobility and flexibility as possible without straining the shoulder or causing too much pain.
Shoulder manipulation: The shoulder joint is gently moved while the patient is under a general anesthetic
ETc.....
