Free Consultations

+91 8197170789

Frozen Shoulder/Adhesive Capsulitis

Frozen Shoulder, often referred to as Adhesive capsulitis is characterized by initially painful and later progressively restricted active and passive glenohumeral (GH) joint range of motion.

Frozen shoulder progresses through three phases:

 Freezing phase: This is a painful phase, a sharp pain is present at rest and also at extremes of movement, and night pain with disrupted sleep may last anywhere from 3-9 months.

Frozen phase: This is a phase with more stiffness and pain at extremes of movement, there is a progressive loss of glenohumeral movement in the capsular pattern. The duration of this phase is around 4 months and lasts till about 12 months.

Thawing phase: This phase is marked by progressive improvement in functional range of motion which can last from 1 to 3.5 years.

Causes:

After surgical intervention,

Stroke,

Diabetes mellitus,

Parkinson’s disease,

Cancer,

Shoulder injury,

Thyroid disorder,

Dupuytren disease,

Complex regional pain syndrome.

Symptoms:

Progressive increase in pain,

Decrease in active and passive range of motion of the shoulder,

Stiffness in the arm,

Disrupted sleep,

Difficulty in performing overhead activities

PHYSIOTHERAPY MANAGEMENT

Thermotherapy:

Heat therapy facilitates relaxation and mobilization of the joints, thus heat is found to be very effective in this condition.

 Cryotherapy:

Cold therapy helps to decrease pain and inflammation, which helps in increasing joint range of motion.

 Ultrasound :

Ultrasound produces deep heat and also increases the excitability of the contracted soft tissue.

 Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve stimulations (TENS):

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve stimulations (TENS) are used to decrease pain and swelling and thus help to improve range of motion.

 Laser therapy:

Laser therapy is highly effective for frozen shoulder. This therapy over several weeks reduces chronic inflammation within the joint and gradually helps restore range of motion and normal function.

Kinesiology taping:

Kinesiology taping provides stability and security to the affected joint and also reduces edema. These tapes are also known to increase support for the affected joint which makes it easy to move while also decreasing shoulder pain.

 Gentle shoulder mobilization:

Gentle relaxed passive gliding movement of the head of the humerus on the glenoid is performed by giving axial traction and approximation, these are carried out along with antero-posterior glide and abduction-adduction glide. In the beginning, slow rhythmic movements are given. Mobilization by accessory movements like acromio-clavicular, sterno-clavicular, and/or scapula-thoracic joint articulation is also recommended.

 Passive movements:

Passive movements reduce pain, pathological limitation of motion. This occurs because of the neuro-modulation effect on the mechanoreceptors within the joint. Passive movements are followed by simple active movements.

 Stretching exercises:

Prolonged stretching causes an increase in the movements too. The exercises include a maximum number of combinations of various movements by minimizing the number of exercises. Graduated relaxed sustained stretching, given in PNF pattern like shoulder elevation with flexion, abduction and external rotation, shoulder internal rotation with extension, adduction, and elbow flexion i.e attaining “hand to lumbar position”.

Self -Assisted stretching:

In Self Assisted stretching method the patient uses his normal or contralateral arm for gradually stretching the affected shoulder. Pendulum stretch, towel stretch, cross-body stretch, inward-outward stretch, armpit stretch, finger walk are examples of simple stretching exercises.

Strengthening exercises:

Strengthening exercises like closed chain isometric exercises, open chain exercises can be done, other exercises with the help of weights, therabands, pulleys, etc are also given.

Share:

Recent Blog

Get In Touch