Frozen Shoulder

Frozen Shoulder

What is a Frozen Shoulder?

The literal translation of frozen shoulder is 'frozen shoulder'. The shoulder and arm are difficult to use. Lifting and rotating the (upper) arm is limited by a lack of freedom of movement in the joint and is accompanied by pain. The complaints often start with a painful and stiff shoulder. There is sudden severe pain in the shoulder and the arm cannot be moved. Sometimes there is a clear cause, but often not.
The shoulder is a ball and socket joint. The bulbous head of the upper arm (humerus) fits into a shallow socket of the shoulder blade (scapula). The capsule, which consists of stiff connective tissue, surrounds the joint and plays an important role in the joint's range of motion. When a frozen shoulder develops, the capsule becomes inflamed and stiff. The inflammation causes adhesions in the capsule surrounding the joint and the joint surfaces. This limits the range of motion of the shoulder joint. The production of synovial fluid, which lubricates the joint and keeps the joint mobile and nourishes it, decreases. This limits the possibility of recovery. In some cases, mobility decreases to such an extent that performing daily activities - such as combing the hair, brushing the teeth or putting on the coat - becomes difficult or even impossible. Remaining active with light weight is important in this case to ensure that recovery proceeds as smoothly as possible. A frozen shoulder can occur after trauma to the shoulder joint (a fall or dislocation) or in response to tendonitis (painful irritation due to friction/compression or overload) or bursitis. After a stroke (CVA = cerebrovascular accident) However, the cause often cannot be determined and the cause is or appears to be spontaneous. However, any situation that prevents you from moving your shoulder or arm poses a risk and can lead to a frozen shoulder.

What are the causes of Frozen Shoulder?

A frozen shoulder can be caused by various problems. It usually occurs after a bursitis, persistent irritation of the tendon or bursa or due to an inflamed joint capsule. But an accident or operation can also be the cause. Sometimes no cause can be found at all. The tissue around the shoulder responds to the irritation with significant inflammation, causing it to adapt to the load placed on it. If the shoulder is held still for a long time due to pain, there is a risk of developing a frozen shoulder. Maintaining mobility within the pain threshold is useful. A frozen shoulder can develop: after a fall, blow or bump after an operation due to overload in combination with inflammation of a tendon or bursa prolonged forced keeping of the arm (fracture, plaster) Studies have shown that a frozen shoulder is more common in women over 50 years of age and in people with diabetes, heart problems and thyroid disorders. It is not clear exactly how this happens. What is the progression? The frozen shoulder starts innocently with some pain. You feel pain and are a bit worried, so you keep him calm and do little to avoid pain. You do this supported by the idea that rest is good, the doctor also says this in many situations. There is something to be said for this after a 5 setter of tennis, or a morning of sawing wood or cleaning windows. However, if the shoulder has been traumatized by a fall, or has been painful for a long time (chronic pain) and you decide not to use it for a long time, this shoulder may tend to stiffen. There are usually 3 stages of frozen shoulder: In the first stage, which can last two to nine months, the pain is the most severe. The pain decreases at night. Movement of the joint is only possible to a limited extent. In the second stage, stiffness occurs and the loss of movement is greatest. This stage often lasts about four to twelve months. The pain remains, but is often less severe. In the final stage, shoulder function improves again. This can take about four to twelve months. Gradually the stiffness and pain disappear on their own. What does the physiotherapist do? If the ultrasound shows calcifications in a tendon or tendonitis, our High Energy ESWT ShockWave fits in with the policy to resolve this and thus remove the pain stimulus to ''freeze''. Improve blood circulation in and around maintain and increase shoulder joint space in the shoulder capsule using special stretching techniques that the patient can perform at home. What can you do to reduce the complaints? It is important to maintain the range of motion of the shoulder as best as possible. Your physical therapist can help you determine which ranges of motion and how the shoulder can be used to minimize further stiffening of the shoulder. Once the pain has subsided, you can start doing more shoulder exercises. If stiffness increases, the physiotherapist can increase your stretching and strength exercises to maximize the function and range of motion of the shoulder. Gently stretching the shoulder muscles further and further cannot reduce the symptoms of a frozen shoulder. Nevertheless, it gives you enough flexibility to resume and continue your daily activities. In general, it does not hurt to keep working and moving with these shoulder complaints. However, certain activities can be difficult, so some people may report sick for a short period of time. It is generally better for recovery to continue going to work and to temporarily adapt the work.
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