‘Frozen' Shoulder/Capsulitis 'Frozen' Shoulder is the generic name given to an extremely painful condition in which the shoulder is completely or partially unmovable. It is caused by inflammation of the capsular ligaments that surround the shoulder joint and its more recognized title is capsulitis. The capsule is normally a very flexible elastic structure - its looseness and elasticity provides the shoulder with a huge range of motion but within this condition the capsule becomes inflamed, swollen and contracted and the normal elasticity is lost, bringing pain and stiffness.
Capsulitis often seems to start ‘out of the blue’, but is often triggered by an earlier injury and the inflammation is sufficiently low-grade to start with that the pain may take several weeks to develop. The condition is more common in women than men and usually presents between the age of 45-65. It is more prevalent in people who have diabetes.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy for frozen shoulder concentrates on passive and active exercises for the shoulder joint. Other treatments include accessory techniques to improve joint mechanics and if the condition is very painful sometimes electrotherapy techniques such as interferential and TENS can be used. Treatment can also include warming up the tissues, pendulum and stretching techniques - these movements aim to gradually lengthen the contracted tissues and improve function.
Injections of corticosteroid are very beneficial in the acutely painful stages but are not necessary if the pain is less severe. Your physiotherapist is well placed to advise you on the relative merits of injection treatment depending on what stage the condition has reached.
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