Frozen Shoulder

  • Also known as ‘Adhesive Capsulitis’.
  • It is a chronic capsular inflammation with fibrosis of the capsule and  caused the pain and stiffness in the shoulder.
  • Theorized into two types :-frozen shoulder 3
    • Primary : Idiopathic, spontaneous; unknown stimulus creates histologic changes caused by immobilization or aging.
    • Secondary : Trauma
  • Females > Males
  • Age range of 40 to 60
  • Commonly in the nondominant shoulder
  • Occur in 3 stages :-
    • Freezing (Painful) Phase: pain continues to get worse and worse with severe night pain, and as the pain worsens the shoulder losses range of motion. This typically lasts 6 weeks to 9 months.
    • Frozen (Stiff) Phase: pain may actually improve, but range of motion is greatly diminished. Daily activities such as tucking in the back of one’s shirt,  reaching for a high shelf, combing the hair, or doing up the bra become increasingly difficult, if not impossible to perform. This typically lasts 4-6 months.
    • Thawing (Resolving) Phase: pain and range of motion slowly improve. This typically lasts 6 months to 2 years.

 

  • Symptom :-frozen shoulder clinical
    • Shoulder movement restricted
    • Feel sharp pain at certain angle
    • Worse at night
    • Pain at rest
    • Patient can not lie on affected side at night
    • Pain spreads below the elbow
    • End feel indicates muscle spasm, like difficult to lift hand, difficult to put hand behind back, difficult to wash hair
Reference
  1. Jan K. Richardson, Z. Annette Iglarsh:Clinical Orthopaedic Physical Therapy. Philadelphia.W.B. Saunders Company.1994