It's cold outside, but for some of us the freeze isn't just out in the snow. It's in our bodies, or more specifically, in our shoulders.
Frozen shoulder is a term used to describe a loss in range
of motion of the shoulder joint.
Injuries to the shoulder can cause inflammation within the joint capsule
resulting in thickening and shortening of the soft tissue. Frozen shoulder usually progresses through
three stages.
The first stage is the freezing stage in which range of
motion is slightly limited. This stage
may or may not involve pain, but usually is painful if the person tries to
surpass the restricted movement. The
next stage is the frozen stage where all types of range of motion are greatly
restricted. Usually there is no pain at
this stage due to the limited mobility.
The third stage is the recovery or thawing stage. This is where seeking chiropractic care can
help to regain the range of motion back into the shoulder.
Chiropractic care usually consists of a combination of
shoulder adjustments, trigger point therapy, soft tissue therapies, and range
of motion stretches/exercises. The
recovery period can vary depending on how long the problem has been going on
and how limited the range of motion has become.
The best way to prevent a frozen shoulder from forming is early
treatment, so if you are suffering from a combination of shoulder pain and
decreased range of motion see your chiropractor right away.
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