Frozen Shoulder – Why Me?

Posted on April 3, 2008 in Health and Fitness by admin

Frozen Shoulder or frozen shoulder syndrome is also often called adhesive capsulitis.

Unlike any other joint in the body, the shoulder joint hangs in its socket and is mostly supported from above. While this makes it a very multifunctional and flexible joint, it also leads to a high degree of instability.

While this condition is found most often with the over forties, and affecting 2-3% of the population, it can, surprisingly, also effect youngsters.

Many conditions are credited with causation; hormonal influences, under use, interference of the nerve supply emanating from the neck and upper thoracic spine, trauma, and poor posture to name just a few.

Trauma, like cervical spine whiplash which may take years to manifest itself symptomatically, may also occur with the shoulder joint. Some major or even minor insult to the rotator cuff such as a fall or extreme over-use may then present as a frozen shoulder well after the original trauma occurs and is forgotten. Some further little irritation may then trigger an already existing weakness.

Poor posture, where for years the head is held in a forward position, shoulders hunched and a humped upper back, will lead to inactivity of some of the major shoulder muscles encouraging a recruitment of the lesser muscles to work harder. This can then lead them to become tired, overworked and as a result sore. Soreness leads to pain leading to a protective restriction. Restriction leads to inactivity and thus less localized circulation of fluids in and around the shoulder girdle, including synovial fluid and blood supply that feeds the joint and the surrounding tissue including the musculature.

Minor discomfort develops that without dedicated movement (remember that “if you don’t use it, you will lose it”) progresses to more severe symptomatology which can include interfering with your sleep especially when lying on the effected shoulder.

During this time, the body reacts by laying down adhesive material that further limits movement. Adhesions are abnormal bands of tissue that thicken and can be likened to internal scar tissue.

This ‘freezing stage’ can last from six weeks to nine months and is the most painful stage.

As we enter the ‘frozen stage’, the pain eases but the lack of motion remains. This stage reputedly last from four to six months.

In the ‘thawing stage’, motion slowly returns. This stage can take from five to twenty-six months.

In the total worse case scenario, it can take as much as forty-four months from start to finish. And even then complete recovery is infrequent. As well, up to 15% will permanently lose their full range of motion; however, these figures could be significantly reduced by continuing flexibility and strengthening exercises for some months after the pain eases and disappears.

A very simple exercise which seems to help with the pain of a frozen shoulder and can be done at any time of the day, even when it wakes you at night, is the following:

1 a) Standing with feet astride, lean forward at the hips and let the arms hang loosely down. Let both arms swing forward and back as loosely as possible. Carry the movements to the point of pain but not into pain. Do this for 45 to 60 seconds.

1 b) Same as above but add the following: At the end of the forward swing, rotate the hand outwards. Swing back and rotate hand inwards at the backward end of the swing. In effect, this will describe a long slender figure-eight movement. Do this for 45 to 60 seconds.

David Morton is a Doctor of Chiropractic with over 30 years clinical experience. He wishes to share his expertise in this field. His website http://www.betterspines.com offers simple ways to increase flexibility and improve overall health and fitness. He also offers a range of other self help programs.

Related Posts

Comments

Leave a Comment




copyright © All Rights Reserved | Ygohealth Designed by Ygosearch