Overview - Frozen Shoulder is also known as, Adhesive Capsulitis. Patients often complain of shoulder pain and reduced range of motion with no obvious trauma. Frozen Shoulder is often described as a problem that slowly appears seemingly for no apparent reason and gets worse over time.
Symptoms - Frozen Shoulder has three distinct phases that last approximately 3 months each.
- Acute Phase: In this phase, the patient complains of moderate to severe shoulder pain that limits all shoulder movement. Sleep is often interrupted.
- Subacute Phase: The pain decreases during this phase, however the affected arm becomes increasingly restricted.
- Chronic Phase: Patients often report that the shoulder pain has significantly decreased, however their shoulder range of motion has not returned to normal.
Cause - The cause is not well understood. The most accepted theory is that Frozen Shoulder has some type of autoimmune component with inflammation and later fibrosis. Research has shown that the problem is not due to long periods of immobilization.
Treatment options
- During the acute phase the pain is often disabling and requires pain medication.
- Chiropractor assisted Rhythmic stabilization, mobilization, and stretching
- Ice and heat
- Ultrasound therapy
- Home instruction for exercise and stretching
Head & Neck
Shoulder & Arm
Back
Hip & Leg
Ankle & Foot
