Frozen shoulder (adhesive caphusitis)
Frozen shoulder / shoulder stiffness is an inflammatory condition characterized by stiffness and pain in the shoulder caused by gradual loss of movement in the shoulder (glenohumeral) joint. This joint consists of a ball (humeral head) and a socket (glenoid). Usually, this joint is one of the most mobile joints in the body. When the shoulder freezes, the joint becomes stuck and movement is limited.
Symptom
Frozen shoulder usually develops slowly in three stages.
- Freezing stage . Any movement of the shoulder causes pain, and the shoulder's ability to move is limited. This stage lasts from 2 to 9 months.
- Frozen stage . Pain may decrease during this stage. However, the shoulders become stiffer. Using it becomes more difficult. This stage lasts from 4 to 12 months.
- Thawing stage . The shoulder's ability to move begins to improve. This stage lasts from 5 to 24 months.
For some people, the pain worsens at night, sometimes disrupting sleep.
What causes it?
The causes of frozen shoulder are not fully understood. There was no clear relationship with arm dominance (the dominant arm is the arm you prefer to use for most tasks) or occupation.
Certain factors can increase the risk of frozen shoulder:
- Age and gender. People aged 40 years and over, especially women, are more likely to experience frozen shoulder.
- Immobility or reduced mobility.
- Systemic disease. Certain diseases seem to make frozen shoulder more likely. Diseases that can increase the risk include: Diabetes, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), cardiovascular disease or Parkinson's disease.
How is it handled?
The two main goals of treatment are:
- To improve movement
To improve movement, physical therapy is usually an option. The physical therapist moves the arm to stretch the capsule at least once or twice a day. These exercises include the use of sticks, a pulley system that can also be done at home and elastic straps to improve shoulder movement. Therapy can also use ice, heat, ultrasound or electrical stimulation with physiotherapy equipment under the supervision of medical staff
- To reduce pain
To reduce pain, anti-inflammatory drugs may be an option. Sometimes the medicines taken can also be given according to the patient's needs/condition, but the patient must be examined by a doctor first before taking these medicines, and the medicines given must be based on a doctor's prescription.
When is surgery an option?
If the above program does not increase range of motion and does not reduce pain, then surgery may be an option. Current developments in health technology provide benefits for patients, one of the surgical techniques that can be performed is arthroscopy . Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique with small surgical wounds of around 0.75 cm - 1 cm using fiber optics and a camera lens to see and treat joint problems displayed on the monitor screen. This procedure is carried out by professional health personnel from Orthopedic specialists to treat joint problems such as knee joints, shoulder joints, elbow joints and ankle joints. Most patients begin physical therapy the same day after the procedure or the next day.
Health services provided by experienced and competent doctors supported by a team and modern medical equipment will certainly provide optimal results. RS. EMC Tangerang together with orthopedic specialists, sports injury consultants, have successfully treated frozen shoulder on many patients from inside and outside the city.
For further information and doctor's schedules, you can contact EMC Tangerang Hospital Marketing on 0818 0818 0812.
Article written by dr. M. Alvin Shiddieqy Pohan, Sp.OT (K) Sport Injury (Specialist in Orthopedics & Traumatology, Sports Injury Consultant at EMC Tangerang Hospital).