Ease Shoulder Stiffness | Your Guide to Finding Relief from Frozen Shoulder with Physiotherapy Treatment | Blog by CB Physiotherapy, Active Healing for Pain Free Life.

 Shoulder pain is a common complaint that affects people of all ages, but when it comes to the debilitating condition known as frozen shoulder, the agony can be particularly intense. Frozen shoulder, medically termed adhesive capsulitis, is characterized by pain, stiffness, and restricted motion in the shoulder joint. In this blog, we will delve into the intricacies of frozen shoulder and explore how physiotherapy plays a pivotal role in alleviating symptoms and restoring functionality.

Understanding Frozen Shoulder:

A frozen shoulder occurs when the shoulder capsule, a connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint, thickens and tightens, developing adhesions. These adhesions reduce the space within the joint, limiting movement and causing pain. The condition typically progresses through three stages:

1: Painful Stage (Freezing): Persistent shoulder pain, especially during movement, is the hallmark of this stage. The range of motion gradually decreases as the shoulder becomes increasingly stiff.
2: Frozen Stage (Adhesive): Stiffness persists, and pain may diminish during this stage. However, the range of motion remains severely limited, making routine activities challenging.
3: Thawing Stage (Recovery): Gradual improvement in shoulder mobility is observed during this stage. The pain diminishes, and patients begin to regain functional use of their shoulders.

Role of Physiotherapy:

Physiotherapy is a cornerstone in the management of frozen shoulder, addressing pain relief, restoring range of motion, and enhancing overall shoulder function. A well-designed physiotherapy program can significantly contribute to the recovery process in each stage of frozen shoulder.

1: Pain Management:
Physiotherapists employ various modalities to alleviate pain, such as heat or cold therapy, ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), laser therapy, etc. These techniques help reduce inflammation, relax muscles, and promote pain relief, facilitating a more comfortable rehabilitation process.

2: Range of Motion Exercises:
The primary goal of physiotherapy for a frozen shoulder is to improve and maintain the range of motion in the shoulder joint. Gentle stretching exercises, passive range of motion exercises, and joint mobilizations are integral components of the treatment plan. These exercises help break down adhesions, preventing further stiffening of the joint and promoting increased flexibility.

3: Strengthening Exercises:
As pain subsides and the range of motion improves, physiotherapists introduce strengthening exercises to rebuild muscle strength and endurance. Targeting the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint is crucial for enhancing stability and supporting ongoing recovery.

4: Posture Correction:
Poor posture can exacerbate shoulder pain and stiffness. Physiotherapists work with patients to correct posture issues that may contribute to the development or persistence of frozen shoulder. This includes education on ergonomics and personalized exercises to promote proper alignment.

5: Patient Education:
Understanding the condition and actively participating in the rehabilitation process is essential for patients with frozen shoulder. Physiotherapists play a crucial role in educating patients about their condition, the importance of regular exercises, and lifestyle modifications to prevent recurrence.

6: Home Exercise Programs:
To ensure continuity of care, physiotherapists design home exercise programs tailored to the individual needs of patients. Consistent adherence to these programs is vital for optimizing outcomes and preventing the reoccurrence of frozen shoulder symptoms.

7: Manual Therapy :
Hands-on techniques, such as massage and joint mobilizations, are employed by physiotherapists to enhance joint mobility and reduce muscle tension. Manual therapy can provide immediate relief and complement other aspects of the rehabilitation process.

8: Progress Monitoring:
Physiotherapy involves continuous assessment of progress. Adjustments to the treatment plan are made based on the individual response to interventions, ensuring a personalized and effective approach to recovery.

Frozen shoulder can be a challenging and painful condition, significantly impacting the quality of life for those affected. Physiotherapy stands out as a cornerstone in the comprehensive management of frozen shoulder, addressing pain, restoring range of motion, and promoting overall shoulder function. Through a combination of targeted exercises, manual therapy, and patient education, physiotherapists play a vital role in unlocking relief and guiding individuals through each stage of their frozen shoulder journey. If you or someone you know is grappling with the symptoms of frozen shoulder, seeking the guidance of a qualified physiotherapist could be the key to a more comfortable and functional future.

 Top 10 Strengthening Exercises for Frozen Shoulder in Diabetic Patients

The global prevalence of diabetes has risen dramatically in the last few decades, and currently affects millions of people around the world. Diabetics require to control the blood sugar level in their body otherwise, it can lead to long-term complications, like heart problems, muscle cramps, arteriosclerosis (blocked arteries), etc. Regular exercises help to keep the heart healthy and maintain the cholesterol level in the body. Diabetics have high glucose levels in their blood because, either their body doesn't produce enough insulin to process glucose, or their body doesn't use insulin properly. This leads to the development of various joint disorders associated with diabetes, and among them, shoulder issues like the frozen shoulder are observed quite commonly in diabetic patients. Frozen shoulder is characterized by pain, thick adhesions, and significant loss of its range of motion in all directions. And exercises are generally helpful in restoring shoulder joint movement. In this blog, we have mentioned a few exercises for frozen shoulder.

 

Frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis, is painful with loss of shoulder motion, which typically occurs in phases. It starts with pain and stiffness, that lasts for 2-6 months. Then it evolves into a less painful, but stiff with complete loss of certain movements. Usually, after months to years of the onset, there is spontaneous improvement in the range of motion. Physiotherapy treatment focuses on decreasing pain, inflammation, and increasing the range of motion.

 

Exercise for Frozen Shoulder

Before doing these exercises do warm up by taking a warm shower or bath for 10 -15 minutes.

Flexion Extension Exercises:

• Sit or stand and use an exercise rod or band.
• Gently bend the arm and shoulder muscles.
• Lift the rod or band over the head and behind the back.

 Pendulum Stretch:

• Relax the shoulders.
• Stand and lean slightly forward, so that the affected arm hangs down,
• Swing the arm in a small circle in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions about a foot in diameter.

 Towel Stretch:

• Hold one end of a towel behind the back and grab the opposite end with the other hand.
• Hold the towel in a horizontal position. Use the unaffected arm to pull the affected arm upward so that stretch is felt.

 Finger Walk:

• Face a wall at arm's length.
• Reach the wall at waist level with the fingertips of the affected arm. Bend the elbow slightly, slowly walk the fingers up the wall, till the arm is raised as far as comfortable.
• Do not involve the shoulder muscles.

 Cross-body Reach:

• Sit or stand and use the good arm to lift the affected arm at the elbow, and bring it up and across the body, exerting gentle pressure to stretch the shoulder.
• Hold the stretch for 20 seconds.

 Armpit Stretch:

• Use the unaffected arm to lift the affected arm onto a shelf about breast height.
• Slowly bend the knees and open up the armpit.
• Deepen the knee bend slightly, gently stretch the armpit, and then straighten.
• Stretch a little further with each knee bend, without forcing it.

 Outward Rotation:

• Hold an exercise band between the hands with the elbows at a 90-degree angle close to the sides.
• Rotate the lower part of the affected arm outward two or three inches and hold for 5 secs.

 Inward Rotation:

• Stand next to a closed door, and hook one end of an exercise band around the doorknob.
• Hold the other end with the hand of the affected arm, while holding the elbow at a 90-degree angle.
• Pull the band toward the body 2-3 inches and hold for 5 seconds.

 Hand-behind-back Stretch

• Stand and place the affected arm behind the back.
• Use the opposite hand to take hold of this wrist.
• Stretch the affected arm by moving it towards the opposite buttock.
• Slowly move it as far up as possible.
• Hold this position for a few seconds.

 Umbrella Push

• Sit in a chair with the elbows alongside the body.
• To hold an umbrella in front, use an overhand grip.
• Use the unaffected arm to push the affected arm over to the side.
• Keep the elbow of the affected arm drawn in at the side.
• Return to the starting position.

While performing these exercises, do them gradually and hold the arm at the endpoint of the range of motion for a few seconds. Slowly release the stretch and repeat. Do not perform forceful movements because they can elicit pain.