Physiotherapy for frozen shoulder & shoulder pain
Need a shoulder pain specialist in Singapore?
Are you experiencing back of shoulder pain? Could it be a frozen shoulder?
Shoulder pain is commonly experienced by everyone as they age. Unfortunately, it is not easy to rule out and confirm the diagnosis as the symptoms for Frozen Shoulder and other common shoulder conditions may present themselves similarly. A physiotherapist can help to assess your situation and advise the optimal treatment for you.
What is a frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder is a condition characterised by stiffness and pain in your shoulder joint. Symptoms begin gradually, worsen over time, followed by an eventual resolution. This condition is often linked to other conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, shoulder trauma and surgery, inflammatory disease, cervical diseases and hyperthyroidism.
This condition causes thickening and tightness of the shoulder capsule and is associated with restriction of both active and passive movement as well as significant amounts of pain.
3 Stages of Frozen Shoulder
Freezing: This is where the pain is acute, and any shoulder movement is painful. (Duration of 0 to 3 months)
Frozen: The pain now is somewhat lesser than during the freezing stage, but the shoulder now is very stiff. And the pain comes on when you lift up the shoulder to the end. (Duration 3 to 9 months)
Thawing: This is when the shoulder joint start to regain the range of motion (Duration 9 to 18 months)
How can physiotherapy help?
Physical therapy and home exercises can be a first-line treatment for frozen shoulders, with consideration of the patient’s symptoms and stage of the condition.
For patients in the
- Freezing stage: Gentle physiotherapy is aimed at maintaining your flexibility and posture. At this stage, it is essential to let the shoulder settle down.
- Frozen stage: Physiotherapy will be slightly more aggressive to prevent more stiffness from settling in. Home exercises are important to maintain your range of motion.
- Thawing stage: Physiotherapy is now aimed at getting back as much flexibility as possible. Treatment includes
- Manual therapy
- Home stretching exercise programme
- Strengthening, including heavy resistance, which can help increase your range!
- Postural exercises and correcting your movement pattern
Common causes of shoulder pain
The bones, ligaments and tendons that make up your shoulder joint are encased in a capsule of connective tissue. Frozen shoulder occurs when this capsule thickens and tightens around the shoulder joint, restricting its movement.
These symptoms are more likely to occur in people who have diabetes or those who recently had to immobilize their shoulder for a long period, such as after surgery or an arm fracture.
- Rotator cuff injury
- Broken arm
- Stroke
- Recovery from surgery
- Diabetes
- Overactive thyroid
- Underactive thyroid
- Cardiovascular disease
- Tuberculosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Wall climbing exercise
- AAROM
- Pilates exercises
- TRX exercises
- Strengthening exercises with weights
Additional Programmes for frozen shoulder & shoulder pain treatment Singapore
Unable to catch up with your grandkids? Devastated with your health report? Use physical activity to control your health status (blood pressure, blood sugar level, etc.) and save long term medical costs, manage your weight, or simply get stronger and fitter. Together with our multidisciplinary affiliates, we can help you improve your lifestyle.
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