Got a sore and painful shoulder that’s restricting life? Did you know that poorly managed stiff and painful shoulders can become a Frozen Shoulder?
Shoulder pain is a common disabling complaint with 70% of the population having experienced shoulder pain at some point in their lifetime. A common mistake that people with shoulder pain make is waiting and hoping that shoulder pain will get better with time.
What many people don’t realise is that a painful and stiff shoulder can become a Frozen shoulder.
Frozen shoulder is a painful condition in which the shoulder stiffens leading to loss of mobility while causing excruciating pain during the day and night. Currently there is no evidence-based treatment often leading to prolonged suffering. The only evidence currently shown for Frozen Shoulder is that it resolves over a 1-to-2-year period. However, with early recognition from a physiotherapist and early intervention Frozen Shoulder’s can be avoided!
How does a Frozen Shoulder develop?
- Primary Frozen Shoulder
With primary Frozen Shoulders development occurs without any warning and episodes. A gradual restriction in movement occurs accompanied with development of pain.
- Secondary Frozen Shoulder
With secondary Frozen Shoulders there is a definite incident which leads to it such as trauma, post-operative stiffness, muscle tear, diabetes, and immobilisation.
What age group experiences Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder usually occurs in the 50’s however it has been shown to occur in the age group of 40-60.
What are the stages of Frozen Shoulder?
- Freezing phase
This is when the shoulder pain is slowly becoming more painful and often keeps people up at night. In the freezing phase, with increasing pain you slowly begin to lose the movement in your shoulder. This is the phase when physiotherapy is most effective in treating the shoulder. Early intervention can help you limit movement loss and help you better maintain function.
- Frozen phase
This is when the shoulder joint loses significant movement and people no longer able to lift their arm up. In the frozen phase the shoulder pain is reduced, and some people will no longer have pain but will lose function. In this stage evidence shows that nothing has been shown o be effective in improving shoulder range of motion. You simply must put up with a stiff shoulder that does not move.
- Thawing phase
This is when the shoulder gradually starts to unfreeze and movement returns. It is unclear why the shoulder suddenly unfreezes after a period of 10 months to 2 years of being frozen, however in the thawing phase physiotherapy can again be effective in helping you regain full movement and function.
Early intervention is the best chance of avoiding a Frozen Shoulder.
With expertise knowledge of shoulder pain, our physiotherapist at Physio Ready can help you avoid onset of Frozen Shoulder or limit the impact of Frozen Shoulder by identifying the exact phase of Frozen shoulder or preventing development of secondary Frozen shoulder by correctly treating your initial shoulder injury.
Need help for your shoulder pain? Contact Physio Ready today on (02) 8622 1681 or 0488 011 165 to see one of our expert shoulder physiotherapists.