Many people suffer from a frozen shoulder that involves constant pain and limited shoulder movement and never realize what the underlying cause is. It is a disorder that affects the connective tissue around your shoulder capsule. The condition develops when this capsule gets inflamed, resulting in it becoming tightened and scarred. Physiotherapy for frozen shoulder is an integral part of treatment for this condition.
Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder
The symptoms of a frozen shoulder appear gradually. Stiffness is usually the first sign. There is a dull but strong ache in the shoulder joint. The ache increases when the joint is moved. You will notice difficulty with even common tasks. With time, there is increased restriction of movement and you will increasingly find it difficult to perform your daily activities. The benefits of Physiotherapy for children and old age go beyond and cover different types of conditions.
Diagnosis of Physiotherapy
A physiotherapist can make the diagnosis of a frozen shoulder by examination and checking your medical history. It can also involve diagnosis using ultrasound or MRI. Typically, it can take several months to recover from this condition. Depending on the severity of the condition, it can take even longer.
Benefits of Physical Therapy
How Physiotherapy for frozen shoulder works depends on which stage the condition is in.
- Freezing Phase: In this phase, there is increasing pain and stiffness in the shoulder. During this phase, it is difficult to treat the condition because there is high resistance to the therapy. Even the pain takes longer to reduce. It is recommended to provide minimal treatment in this phase to ensure the success of treatment in the long term.
- Frozen Phase: During this phase, the treatment is likely to become more effective than in phase 1. The pain starts to reduce slightly but the shoulder still remains stiff. During this phase, the physiotherapist helps you to regain more movement of the shoulder.
- Recovery Phase: During this phase, the treatment is more effective and the shoulder is less resistant to it. This phase is also referred to as thawing. The condition is much more responsive to treatment compared to the other phases.
Frozen shoulder affects a significant percentage of the population. Usually, it affects older adults but its occurrence has also been found in the young. Physiotherapy for children and old age can help in treating a wide range of conditions of the joints and muscles. If you are suffering from any such problem, you should see a good physiotherapist near you.
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