What is a frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder is a painful condition that causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint. It effects people between the ages between 40-60 years old (women more than men) and often starts for no obvious reason. On occasion, it can develop after shoulder surgery or after a fall. At you first appointment your clinician will be able to diagnose if you have frozen shoulder, using clinical tests and by carrying out a diagnostic ultrasound scan. Frozen shoulder often does not respond well to physiotherapy or conservative treatment such as rest and/or painkillers. An ultrasound guided steroid injection has been shown to be the most effective treatment for frozen shoulder.
What are the symptoms of a frozen shoulder?
The symptoms of a frozen shoulder are:
Severe pain and significant stiffness in the shoulder
Pain that is getting worse and radiates down the arm
Pain that wakes you at night
What are the risk factors associated with developing frozen shoulder?
The mechanism underlying the development of frozen shoulder is still unknown, however, factors known to increase the risk of onset are as follows:
Gender – women are more susceptible to frozen shoulder than men.
Age – a majority of frozen shoulder cases occur in the 4th to 6th decade of life.
Trauma – injury of the shoulder, including fractures, dislocations, rotator cuff tears, or surgery can all be associated with the onset of secondary frozen shoulder.
Diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2)
Over or underactive thyroid
Cardiovascular disease.
How do you know if you have frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder often starts insidiously but can also occur after trauma or injury. However, an insidious onset is by far the most common.
Symptoms of frozen shoulder include:
Significant pain that is difficult to manage with over-the-counter pain medication, ice and physiotherapy.
Pain that is affecting your ability to sleep or is regularly waking you at night.
Increasing stiffness in the shoulder that is limiting your ability to raise your arm or perform activities of daily living such as dressing and undressing
How is frozen shoulder diagnosed?
If you feel you may have frozen shoulder it is recommended that you seek professional assistance as soon as possible. A diagnosis of frozen shoulder is made using clinical assessment by your clinician. A formal diagnosis is created by a combination of strength and range of movement testing.
This video should not serve as a replacement for professional health or medical advice.
Always consult a health professional before starting a new exercise or fitness programme.
Please stop and consult a physiotherapist if these exercises cause you pain.
