Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)
Adhesive Capsulitis, or a frozen shoulder, is a poorly understood condition in which the deepest layers of soft tissue, called the joint capsule, become diseased. Shoulder range of motion becomes very limited and painful.
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The cause of a frozen shoulder is still not known but minor traumas, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, psychiatric patients, post-surgical patients, and prolonged immobilization of the shoulder may in someway cause this condition. The disease is characterized as having freezing, frozen, and thawing stages, and is self-limiting (in time it goes away on its own). However, it can take two years or more to recover from this condition.
Physical therapy consisting of patient education, stretching, joint mobilization, and a home exercise program can help speed recovery. For a small percentage of frozen shoulder patients, it may take two years or more to recover.
Possible Treatments
- Active Assistive Range of Motion
- Cryotherapy or Cold Therapy
- Electrotherapeutic Modalities
- Heat Pack
- Isometric Exercise
- Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
- Posture Training
- Physical Agents
- Shoulder Active Range of Motion
- Shoulder Joint Mobilization
- Shoulder Passive Range of Motion
- Shoulder Resistive Range of Motion
- Soft Tissue Mobilization
- Stretching/Flexibility Exercise
Possible Treatment Goals
- Decrease Risk of Reoccurrence
- Improve Function
- Improve Muscle Strength and Power
- Increase Oxygen to Tissues
- Improve Proprioception
- Improve Range of Motion
- Improve Relaxation
- Self-care of Symptoms
More Shoulder articles
Shoulder Instability
Shoulder instability occurs when the shoulder moves completely out of its socket (dislocation) and requires a medical professional to “relocate it”, or…
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For those patients with reoccurring dislocations or instability, treatment is to modify or avoid the known activities, rehabilitate the shoulder with a…
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Posterior Dislocation
Dislocations in which the arm moves backward out of the socket (called a posterior dislocation) are uncommon (4%).
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