Adhesive Capsulitis – aka Frozen Shoulder

Frozen Shoulder and the Move Better PT’s that can help “Thaw” it

Adhesive Capsulitis – aka frozen shoulder

I have a frozen shoulder? Pshawww . . . in all reality who really needs full range of motion in their shoulder?  It’s not like that suitcase won’t pick itself up to get on a plane to go on vacation, or I wish to play golf, or drive – right? I mean, who really needs to reach into a cabinet to get something? If you are like me, having a fully functioning body makes one most agreeable.  Having a fully functioning shoulder is part of that “agreeable” scenario.  So just what is this frozen shoulder? How does it present itself? How can it be fixed? And why do I need a Move Better Physical Therapist? 

Frozen Shoulder?  What’s that?

In the world of medicine, frozen shoulder, has the name Adhesive Capsulitis. It is a condition in which one’s shoulder freezes up and becomes painfully difficult to move. The condition involves the shoulder capsule, in which the connective tissue surrounding it, the glenohumeral joint, becomes inflamed and stiff.  The stiffness in the shoulder thereby greatly restricts motion, which in turn causes chronic pain.  The exact cause of frozen shoulder is unknown, but it may have a link to Diabetes and Thyroid disease. Frozen shoulder affects between 2%-5% of the population and most commonly occurs in adults between the ages of 40 and 65.

How does Frozen Shoulder present itself?

Frozen shoulder presents itself first as an achiness in the shoulder joint.  Its symptoms can include severe pain when trying to move the shoulder, and difficulty sleeping on that particular side. The shoulder goes from fully mobile, to a bit stiff, and then freezes up over time, as its name suggests.  Frozen shoulder can last up to two years, but fortunately with the help of a Move Better Physical Therapist the “thaw” can be nudged along much faster.

What does a Move Better PT do to help alleviate frozen shoulder?

A Move Better PT helps to alleviate frozen shoulder by starting with always getting to know their patient and their history, first.  Once that has been established, the involved shoulder goes through a thorough examination. The shoulder is taken through its passive and active range of motions, thus giving the therapist insight as to what treatment will best suit that particular shoulder. Joint mobilization or manipulation may be used, along with heat, and a series of progressive exercises.  Exercises are demonstrated by our physical therapists; who will then observe the patient performing the correct exercises.  This extra step ensures that the patient understands the script for safe execution of the maneuvers prescribed. After a one-on-one with a highly trained Move Better PT, a prescription is given for stretches and mobility exercises, which are completed at home before the next visit with our Move Better PT.

Why Move Better PT’s?

A Move Better PT should be your first choice because they don’t use aides or extenders. They have been educated in musculoskeletal disorders, have their Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT), and all either have, or are in the process of completing their board certification as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS).  Because of their training, a Move Better PT has a plethora of options to help treat frozen shoulder, along with many other musculoskeletal disorders. Move Better PT’s are the pain experts that not only want to quickly get patients back on the road to recovery, but they are the ones qualified to do so in a safe, evidence-based, enjoyable manner. If you are in need of, or want to see what the Move Better experience is all about, please point and click here.https://movebettertherapy.com/contact-us/