Shoulder joint stiffness

Shoulder joint stiffness

Shoulder joint stiffness (also called frozen shoulder or shoulder capsulitis) is a medical condition that affects the shoulder joint and causes severe pain and limitation in the movement of the shoulder joint. Symptoms of the condition usually gradually worsen over 1-3 years until it reaches a severe stage where the shoulder joint becomes almost frozen and loses a large part of its rate of movement.

Shoulder joint stiffness is caused by inflammation of the shoulder joint capsule, the capsule is the membrane that covers the shoulder joint that contains the synovial material that facilitates the movement of the shoulder joint. In general, cases of shoulder joint stiffness are uncommon, as they affect only about 2% of people, and usually occur in those who have undergone some medical procedures or surgeries that hinder the movement of the shoulder joint for a long time.

Shoulder joint stiffness

Causes and symptoms

The causes of shoulder joint stiffness are still not completely clear, but there are factors that increase the risk of shoulder joint capsule inflammation, which in turn causes shoulder joint stiffness or frozen shoulder movement. Including:

Long-term immobility of the shoulder joint: This may be due to the patient undergoing a certain surgical procedure or a certain injury that hinders the movement of the shoulder joint.

Injuries: Some injuries may cause stiffness of the shoulder joint over time, such as a tear in the tendons of the rotator cuff of the shoulder joint or a broken arm.

Diabetes patients: Shoulder joint stiffness occurs more often in diabetics, and affects approximately 10% to 20% of diabetics. The reason behind this is not understood by doctors.

Some other diseases: Some other diseases are associated with shoulder joint stiffness, such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, and stroke.

The symptoms of shoulder joint stiffness are pain and limited movement, but they develop over a relatively long period, and go through several stages, and each stage may take several months.

Diagnosis

Shoulder joint stiffness is usually diagnosed through a clinical examination of the patient, by moving the shoulder joint in several specific ways. Although a clinical examination is sufficient for diagnosis, the doctor may request X-rays or an MRI of the shoulder to rule out other shoulder conditions.

Diagnosis of shoulder stiffness

Treatment

Conservative non-surgical methods: In the early stages of shoulder stiffness, conservative treatment options may be used, the most important of which are physical therapy and exercises for the shoulder joint. This also includes changing lifestyle or using anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, and other solutions.

Manual therapy under general anesthesia: It aims to treat and improve the rate of movement of the shoulder joint and the tissues surrounding the joint and stiffness of the shoulder joint. The patient is subjected to this procedure when he suffers from severe stiffness and does not respond to physical therapy, such that physical therapy causes pain to the patient. Manual therapy under general anesthesia is successful in most cases. To improve the results, this may be followed by injections of platelet-rich plasma or injections of autologous fat rich in stem cell-rich fat.

Shoulder arthroscopy: Arthroscopy is rarely resorted to, and its goal is to release some parts of the shoulder joint capsule to improve shoulder joint movement, if none of the previous methods work.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the recovery period after manual therapy for shoulder joint stiffness?

After the treatment, the patient's movement improves immediately, and the pain decreases significantly. The patient must maintain the rate of movement acquired after the operation by continuing to move, and the recovery period may take from 6 weeks to 3 months.

Does manual therapy have short-term results?

The results of the procedure are long-term and the patient's movement improves completely and the pain disappears completely. However, after many years, the patient may lose a small part of the rate of movement.

Is it possible for the condition to recur and shoulder joint stiffness to return?

It is very rare. It may occur in some patients who suffer from some diseases such as diabetes.

What about regenerative therapy? Can it be applied to cases of shoulder joint stiffness?

Performing manual therapy under general anesthesia is a successful procedure for treating cases of shoulder joint stiffness in an excellent way in terms of improving pain and rate of movement. In case there are conditions associated with shoulder joint stiffness such as shoulder joint osteoarthritis or acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, which may cause pain when the patient regains movement after manual therapy, autologous fat rich in stem cell-rich fat cells or platelet-rich plasma injections may be used to treat these conditions associated with shoulder joint stiffness.