Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis) is a disorder characterized by:
Anatomy The shoulder is made up of three bones: the scapula (shoulder blade), the humerus (upper arm bone), and the clavicle (collarbone). The joint capsule is a watertight sac that encloses the joint and the fluids that bathe and lubricate it. The walls of the joint capsule are made up of ligaments. Ligaments are soft connective tissues that attach bones to bones. The joint capsule has a considerable amount of slack, loose tissue, so the shoulder is unrestricted as it moves through its large range of motion.
Doctors don't know the precise cause of frozen shoulder. It can occur after an injury to your shoulder or prolonged immobilization of your shoulder, such as after surgery or an arm fracture.
People who have diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lung disease, and heart disease have a greater risk of frozen shoulder. For this reason, frozen shoulder may have an autoimmune component, meaning your immune system may begin to attack the healthy parts of your body — in this case, the capsule and connective tissue of your shoulder.
Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint. The round end of your upper arm bone (humerus) fits into a shallow groove on your shoulder blade (scapula), much like a golf ball rests on a tee. Tough connective tissue, called the shoulder capsule, surrounds the joint.
Mechanism by which a Frozen Shoulder occurs:
Pain due to frozen shoulder is usually dull or aching. It becomes worse with movment of the shoulder or arm.
The pain is usually located over the outer shoulder area and sometimes the upper arm.
The hallmark of the disorder is restricted motion or stiffness in the shoulder. The affected individual cannot move the shoulder normally. Motion is also limited when someone else attempts to move the shoulder for the patient.
Frozen shoulder typically develops slowly, and in three stages. Each of these stages can last a number of months:
Stiffness and discomfort may worsen at night.
In most cases, Frozen Shoulder will get better on its own. However, this may take up to two to three years. If you have a stiff and painful shoulder, see your physician to make sure no other injuries are present.
Treatment for Frozen Shoulder involves:
People with shoulder pain have also found these products to be effective: |