ABOUT THE DISEASE
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint made up of three bones: the upper arm bone (humerus), the shoulder blade (scapula), and the collarbone (clavicle).
The head of the upper arm bone fits into a shallow socket in the shoulder blade. Strong connective tissue, called the shoulder capsule, surrounds the joint.
To help the shoulder move more easily, synovial fluid lubricates the shoulder capsule and the joint. In frozen shoulder, the shoulder capsule thickens and becomes tight. Stiff bands of tissue - called adhesions - develop. In many cases, there is less synovial fluid in the joint.
Frozen shoulder is a general term used for any form of stiffness in the shoulder. It is sometimes mistakenly also known as Adhesive capsulitis, which is a very specific term for a condition that involves the spontaneous, gradual onset of shoulder stiffness and pain caused by tightening of the joint capsule. Frozen shoulder occurs in about 2% of the general population. It most commonly affects people between the ages of 40 and 60, and occurs in women more often than men.
SYMPTOMS
The main symptoms are:
- • Decreased motion of the shoulder - problems in lifting the hand above your head or behind you.
- • Dull or aching pain in the outer shoulder area.
- • Stiffness
CAUSES
A few of the risk factors include:
Diabetes - Frozen shoulder affects 10% to 20% of individuals suffering from diabetes. The reason for this is not known.
Other diseases - Some additional medical problems associated with frozen shoulder include hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Parkinson`s disease, and cardiac disease.
Immobilization - Frozen shoulder can develop after a shoulder has been immobilized for a period of time due to surgery, a fracture, or other injury.
DIAGNOSIS
- Physical examination, observing active and passive range of movement.
- Imaging tests such as X-Ray, MRI or an ultrasound.
TREATMENT METHODS
In many cases the problem is cured on its own over time. However in more serious cases the treatment options include:
Non surgical treatment options:
- Non steroidal anti inflammatory medicines
- Steroid injections
- Physical therapy
Surgery for Frozen shoulder - like manipulation, release or cutting of tight ligaments under arthroscopy/open surgery, when non surgical treatment is not found to be effective.
You may also like to learn about:
Dislocation
Arthritis
Ligament injury
Fracture
Shoulder injury
Synovitis