‘Frozen shoulder’ is a condition that leads to pain and stiffness of the shoulder. It’s also known as Adhesive Capsulitis.
WHO: It’s estimated that up to 1 in 20 people in the UK may be affected by frozen shoulder at some point in their life. Most people who get frozen shoulder are between the ages of 40 and 60. The condition is more common in women than men.
The following can increase your risk of developing a frozen shoulder:
- Previous shoulder injury or shoulder surgery
- Diabetes
- Dupuytren’s contracture – a condition where small lumps of thickened tissue form in the hands and fingers
- Recovering from a medical condition or procedure that prevents you from moving your arm — such as a stroke or a mastectomy.
CAUSE: Frozen shoulder occurs when the flexible tissue that surrounds the shoulder joint, known as the capsule, thickens and tightens, restricting its movement. It’s not fully understood why this happens, although it’s more likely to occur in people who have diabetes or those who recently had to immobilize their shoulder for a long period, such as after surgery or an arm fracture.
SYMPTOMS: Pain and persistent stiffness in the shoulder joint are the two main symptoms of a frozen shoulder. Symptoms vary from mild, with little difference to daily activities, to severe, where it may not be possible to move your shoulder at all.
The symptoms tend to gradually get worse over a number of weeks, months or years. You’ll typically experience shoulder pain at first, which can be severe, followed by increasing stiffness.
The stiffness may affect your ability to carry out everyday activities. In particularly severe cases, you may not be able to move your shoulder at all.
There are 3 stages:
- Freezing stage: Any movement of your shoulder causes pain, and your shoulder’s range of motion starts to become limited.
- Frozen stage: Pain may begin to diminish during this stage. However, your shoulder becomes stiffer, and using it becomes more difficult.
- Thawing stage: The range of motion in your shoulder begins to improve.
DIAGNOSIS:
Diagnosis is usually made through a physical examination and thorough history taking by a GP or Physiotherapist. We would assess your active and passive range of movement at the shoulder. We would look at excluding other causes of shoulder pain.
INVESTIGATIONS:
You may require an x-ray to rule out other causes like arthritis.
TREATMENT:
A frozen shoulder may get better over time without treatment, but recovery is often slow and can take at least 18 to 24 months. In some people, the condition may not improve for five years or more.
GPs may prescribe pain killers or steroid injections.
Depending on your phase – Freezing, frozen and thawing stages treatment will differ.
Treatments from a physiotherapist include:
- stretching exercises
- strength exercises
- pain relief advice
- acupuncture
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