FROZEN SHOUDER
What causes a frozen shoulder?
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It is five times more common in diabetics
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It is more common in women (60%)
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It may have a genetic component i.e. it can run in the family
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About 15% of people get it on both sides
When frozen shoulder occurs, the shoulder capsule becomes inflamed and
stiff. The inflammation may cause adhesions to develop between your joint's
surfaces. Synovial fluid, which helps to keep your joint lubricated and
moving smoothly, may decrease.
Although the exact cause is unknown, certain factors may increase your
risk of getting frozen shoulder. These factors include:
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or prolonged immobilization
of your shoulder, such as after surgery or an arm fracture.
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People with overactive thyroid
(hyperthyroidism), underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), cardiovascular
disease or Parkinson's disease.
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Some form of stress or bed rest following illness.
What are the typical symptoms of a frozen shoulder?
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Shoulder pain; usually a dull, aching pain located over the outer
shoulder area and sometimes the upper arm. For some people, the pain
worsens at night, sometimes disrupting normal sleep patterns.
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Limited movement of the shoulder
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Difficulty with activities such as combing hair, putting on shirts/bras
, reaching for your wallet in your back pocket
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Pain when trying to sleep on the affected shoulder
How is a frozen shoulder diagnosed?
- During examination when the shoulder range of motion is significantly
limited, with either the patient or the examiner attempting the movement.
- Underlying diseases involving the shoulder can be diagnosed with
the history, examination, blood testing, and x-ray examination /MRI
of the shoulder.
What are the stages of a frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder typically develops slowly, and in three stages. Each
of these stages can last a number of months:
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During this stage, pain occurs with
any movement of your shoulder and your shoulder's range of motion starts
to become limited. This painful stage typically lasts 6-12 weeks.
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Pain may begin to reduce during this
stage. However, your shoulder becomes stiffer and your range of motion
decreases notably. The frozen stage can last 4-6 months.
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The thawing stage is gradual, and
motion steadily improves over a lengthy period of time. The thawing
stage can last more than a year.
Treatment of Frozen Shoulder:
There are many ways to treat Frozen Shoulder.
with over 15 years of experience help you get pain
relief from Frozen Shoulder quickly and easily.
If you are suffering from frozen shoulder,
you can book
an appointment to see our Senior Physiotherapist. We are located
right in the heart of Singapore, at Orchard, and are available Mondays
through Saturday.
For critical cases, we also provide Home visits
to provide pain relief to acute and severe pain cases.
