Frozen Shoulder

What is frozen shoulder?

It is a disorder of the shoulder, characterized by pain and decreased mobility in the scapulohumeral joint also known as adhesive capsulitis. Clinical signs appear progressively and gradually increase in intensity, the condition can last up to 3 years.

The risk of developing frozen shoulder increases in those who have had surgery that limits arm movement postoperatively such as : Stroke or mastectomy.
It does not usually recur on the same shoulder but sometimes it can occur on the other shoulder.

What are the symptoms of frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder (frozen shoulder) is a condition that develops progressively through 3 stages:
– Freezing phase: any movement in the shoulder causes pain and movements begin to become limited.
– Frozen phase: the pain starts to decrease during this period but the shoulder is stiff and movements are difficult.
– Recovery phase: the degree of movement in the shoulder starts to improve.
Some patients may have more frequent nocturnal pain which reduces the quality of sleep.

What causes frozen shoulder?

There are a number of risk factors associated with this condition such as:
– Age and gender: patients over 40 years of age and especially women may develop this condition more frequently;
– Shoulder immobilization:May occur in patients who have had their shoulder immobilized for a period of time due to the following conditions: rotator cuff injury, humerus fractures, stroke;
– Systemic conditions: diabetes, hypo and hyperthyroidism, cardiovascular disease, tuberculosis, Parkinson’s disease.

How can frozen shoulder be diagnosed?

The clinical examination performed by the doctor shows a reduction of both active and passive mobility in the shoulder.
Sometimes the clinical examination may be accompanied by imaging explorations such as radiography, ultrasound or MRI.

How is frozen shoulder treated?

Most treatments aim to decrease pain and maintain the mobility of the shoulder joint.
– Anti-inflammatory drugs;
– Medical recovery: physiotherapy to reduce inflammation and physiotherapy to increase movement;
– Invasive interventions such as :
Corticosteroid infiltrations can significantly reduce pain and increase the range of motion in the shoulder, especially in the early stages of frozen shoulder;
Infiltrations under pressure with physiologic saline can loosen the capsule and lead to an increase in the degree of movement in the shoulder;
Manipulations under anesthesia can lead to an increase in the degree of movement;
Arthroscopic surgery to remove adhesions and scar tissue