FROZEN SHOULDER

Frozen shoulder is a common condition characterized by pain with significant loss of its range of motion in all directions progressively worsening over a period of time.

The pain may be worse at night with difficulty in finding a comfortable position during sleep. It often radiates to the middle of the upper arm.

How is a frozen shoulder treated?

Pain control:

This can be achieved with anti-inflammatory medications and physiotherapy which may include ultrasound, electric stimulation or heat therapy.

Restore movement:

Exercises and Stretching: The physiotherapist moves the patient's arm to stretch the capsule and teaches the patient home exercises that may include use of a wand or overhead pulley.

The therapist will demonstrate a stretching program that you should do at least once or twice a day. These exercises include the use of a cane, a home pulley system, and an elastic band to increase motion of the shoulder.

To minimize the loss of muscle on the affected arm you need to work on strengthening exercises.

It is very important for persons with a frozen shoulder to avoid reinjuring the shoulder tissues during the rehabilitation period. These individuals should avoid sudden, jerking motions of or heavy lifting with the affected shoulder.

With physiotherapy, medication and self-care efforts, most people with frozen shoulder eventually regain nearly full shoulder movement and strength as signs and symptoms improve.

Patients with resistant frozen shoulders can be considered for release of the scar tissue by arthroscopic surgery or manipulation of the shoulder under anaesthesia to physically break up the scar tissue of the joint capsule.

How long does the rehabilitation take?

Supervised physiotherapy usually lasts from one to six weeks, with the frequency of visits ranging from one to three times per week. The patient should engage in home exercises and stretching throughout the healing process. The stretching exercises should be done at home at least once or twice daily, as noted above.

In general, frozen shoulder will resolve almost completely with time and consistent compliance with the prescribed treatment program.

Causes of Frozen Shoulder

Experienced Physiotherapists in Singapore, with over 15 years of experience help you get pain relief  from Frozen Shoulder quickly and easily.

If you are suffering from frozen shoulder, you can book an appointment to see our Senior Physiotherapist. We are located right in the heart of Singapore, at Orchard, and are available Mondays through Saturday.

For critical cases, we also provide Home visits to provide pain relief to acute and severe pain cases.