Frozen Shoulder

Description

The shoulder becomes very stiff and raising the arm on the affected side is very difficult. The cause of frozen shoulder is unknown but it often occurs after the arm and shoulder have been immobile for a while. This could be after a shoulder injury, a surgery of the shoulder or chest or a heart attack. The disorder can take from a few months to 2 years to resolve depending on the severity of the problem. This period can be lessened with good treatment. Without treatment it takes longer to resolve and the amount of residual stiffness is greater.

How we Treat Frozen Shoulder

We use moist heat and gentle stretching of the shoulder joint and its surrounding muscles. We also use ultrasound and electrical stimulation to reduce pain. We use therapeutic exercise to strength the tendons of the rotator cuff. Gradually the mobility returns. It is important to have someone treat you who understands the complexities of the shoulder joint movements.