at the cross roads of holistic health
Links
Professional educational material
Adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder
Signs or Symptoms
- Inability to raise the arm with severe ache, pain or tenderness.
Description
It is characterized by a decrease lifting the arm and turning it inwards. It is most common in the 40-60 year old's and more common in women as men. The average duration is 18 months. The patient usually has a history of bursitis or tendonitis that has failed to heal.
Causes
Sometimes this follows trauma sometimes not.
Standard Treatment
Physical therapy is used to increase the range of motion and increase any loss of strength. Cortisone injections are used. If these fail then surgery may be indicated
AK Approach
This condition is the end result of trauma to the shoulder. It could have started as a single incident or be the end result of many minor traumas. Here, the body has over healed the injury resulting in tissues that normally glide against each other now sticking together. The treatment begins by assessing what muscles, tendons and ligaments have been damaged and returning them to normal functioning. Specific procedures to slowly loosen the muscles, tendons and ligaments so that they can again slide against each other are used. Following this, testing is used to develop a rehabilitation program that is specific for your needs. Other lifestyle modifications are used to prevent or minimize exacerbating the condition. These may include changers in diet to help limit inflammation in your body. A specific program for your needs is created.