Frozen Shoulder
What is it?
Frozen shoulder, also known as Adhesive capsulitis, is a chronic and debilitating condition that can last up to 3 years. It affects approximately 1 in 20 people however is more common in women over the age of 40.
Your shoulder is made up of three bones that form a ball-and-socket joint. There is also tissue surrounding the shoulder joint that holds everything together, this is called the shoulder capsule.
With frozen shoulder, the capsule thickens and becomes inflamed causing pain and reduced motion. Bands of scar tissue form and there’s less of a liquid called synovial fluid to keep the joint lubricated.
Common symptoms
The main symptoms of frozen shoulder are stiffness and pain but this can vary depending on the stage.
Freezing stage. Any movement of your shoulder causes pain, and your shoulder's range of motion starts to become limited.
Frozen stage. Pain may begin to diminish during this stage. However, your shoulder becomes stiffer, and using it becomes more difficult.
Thawing stage. The range of motion in your shoulder begins to improve.
Diagnosing Frozen Shoulder
Here at The Woodstock Chiropractor, we always carry out an in-depth medical history followed by a thorough physical examination where we test the function of your nerves and muscles and then the mobility of your joints as well as using specialised orthopaedic and neurological tests to locate the exact cause of your pain.
We have an excellent relationship with local radiography departments and can refer for X-rays, MRI or CT if clinically necessary.
Types of treatment
Our Chiropractors tailor all of their treatment plans to you as an individual. We use a variety of different treatment modalities including; manual therapy, mobility stretches, strength and conditioning exercises and medical acupuncture. The techniques used are aimed at not only alleviating your symptoms and increasing your mobility but addressing the cause of your problem.
We want every patient to fulfil their potential.