Frozen Shoulder
SUMMARY
Causes:- Damage to the shoulder joint and surrounding tissues
- Insufficient rest time between activity
- Excessive immobility after an injury
- Overuse injury
- Restricted movement of the shoulder
- Dull, aching pain in shoulder
- Difficulty with activities such as getting dressed, brushing teeth etc.
- RICE method after exercise
- Anti-inflammatory Medication
- A patella tracking strap or brace
- Good fitting running shoes
- Controlled strengthening and stretching activities
What is Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder occurs when the connective tissues in the shoulder joint and surrounding area become damaged or inflamed resulting in a loss of movement in the area. This injury is common amongst athletes who do not allow an adequate resting period between activity leading to excessive strain on the soft tissue over time. This injury can also arise after an athlete has undergone a significant period of rest after an injury without performing any stretching or strengthening activities to keep the area strong and flexible.Frozen Shoulder Symptoms
Due to the nature of the injury, the symptoms of frozen shoulder will usual appear gradually overtime. Patients will usually feel pain and tenderness in the shoulder and often the arm, back and neck which becomes more apparent when activity is resumed which puts strain on the shoulder such as lifting heavy objects. The symptoms of frozen shoulder tend to appear in three phases –- Freezing stage – When frozen shoulder is first sustained, it is at its most painful and motion is beginning to feel restricted. This usually lasts 6-12 weeks.
- Frozen stage – At this stage the pain begins to ease however movement becomes even more limited and patients can be left with this sensation for up to 6 months.
- Thawing stage – in the final stage, the mobility of the shoulder begins to reappear and pain gradually disappears. This stage can often last more than a year.