The frozen shoulder is painful. It limits your mobility and makes even the simplest tasks seem oddly difficult. Many people confuse the condition with rotator cuff injuries but both require different types of treatment. Physiotherapy is an effective option when it comes to treating a frozen shoulder. It relieves pain, reduces swelling and eases muscle tension in the shoulder joints. You start feeling better after one or two sessions itself.
Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis is associated with pain and stiffness. It arises due to the inflammation of the shoulder capsule. Also, the fibrotic adhesions restrict your normal shoulder movement. The joint capsule first shrinks and then it thickens resulting in excruciating pain.
The shoulder joint is quite complex. It undergoes a lot of wear and tear to let you move freely. However, with time and other factors, the tissues surrounding the joint may get inflamed and stiffened, thereby causing pain and discomfort while moving the shoulders.
The causes have not yet been discovered yet. But, certain conditions have been shown to trigger frozen shoulders such as:
Diabetes mellitus
Pre-existing shoulder injury
Complex regional pain syndrome
Thyroid
Parkinson diseases
Females are more prone to this condition. The good news is you can recover without having to rely on pain meds or surgeries, thanks to physiotherapy.
You should consult as soon as you notice a sharp pain in the shoulder or when you find it difficult to move the shoulder how you want to.
Frozen shoulder develops in three stages such as:
The freezing stage
This is the beginning of the condition. Immense inflammation occurs in and around the shoulder joint resulting in pain and limited mobility. You may find it difficult to move your shoulder in specific directions during this phase. It lasts about 2-4 months.
The frozen stage
The inflammation reduces in this stage and fibrosis starts spreading across ligaments and the shoulder capsule. You may feel excruciating pain at the beginning of this stage but eventually, this is all about restricted movement. It lasts for about 4-12 months.
The thawing stage
You start recovering at this stage. The pain and inflammation subside. It lasts about 26 months.
Recovering from this condition may seem time-consuming. But, it can be quicker if you get physical therapy right at the initial stage.
Physiotherapy is the science of movement. That means the physiotherapist recommends specific movement exercises to ease the tension and reduce the inflammation around your shoulder joints. It boosts the natural healing process of your body, resulting in reduced pain and better mobility.
The treatments depend on which stage you are on. The therapist assesses your symptoms and injuries to detect what’s exactly wrong with the shoulder joint.
Once they figure out the main source of your pain, they provide you with advice on lifestyle changes, a treatment plan consisting of exercises and other pain management techniques. The exercises improve your shoulder movement and help you move pain-free.
Initially, the therapist focuses on reducing your pain. Once that’s achieved, they guide you through advanced stretching and strengthening exercises. The purpose is to prevent the risk of further injuries.
The most common pain management techniques include IMS, manual therapy, shockwave therapy and more. You can also ask for a home exercise program in case you want to exercise on your own.
Exercises form a major part of a physiotherapy treatment program for frozen shoulders. However, you may be recommended other treatments as well such as:
Electrotherapy
Electrotherapy involves the use of sound waves to reduce inflammation and pain. Whether it’s ultrasound or IFT, electrotherapy methods focus on releasing muscle spasms in shoulder joints.
Manual therapy
Your therapist may use a hands-on approach to mobilize the shoulder joints and associated tissues, muscles and ligaments. Manual therapies help release and stretch tight muscles in your shoulders.
Stretching exercises
Stretching exercises are the most effective when it comes to treating a frozen shoulder. It enables the shoulder capsule to stretch and hence lets the shoulder move according to its range of motion.
It is recommended to start the exercises under the supervision of an experienced physiotherapist. The wrong exercise or posture can make things worse instead of better.
Yes, you can seek physical therapy to treat the condition. It not only relieves the problem but also prevents further injuries. Frozen shoulder may get better on its own but it takes a lot of time. The human body is capable of healing on its own. Physiotherapy accelerates the healing process. You cannot restrict your lifestyle because of a condition. Can you? But, you can always take the right steps to recover and restore a healthy life.