Shoulder periarthritis symptoms

Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
Updated on September 19, 2024
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In daily life, periarthritis of the shoulder often has the following symptoms and manifestations: The first is movement impairment. This is manifested as limited movement in various directions of the shoulder joint, including outward extension of the upper limbs, actions such as chest-expanding, taking off clothes, as well as significant difficulties in lifting and rotating. This can present as an inability to flexibly comb hair, wash face, and dress or undress. This is a key point in distinguishing frozen shoulder from other shoulder disorders. The second is pain. It manifests as pain in one shoulder joint without obvious trauma, which can be a dull pain or sharp, knife-like pain, often worsening at night and even causing awakening due to pain. The pain can radiate to the neck, back, forearm, and hand. The third is tenderness. Most patients with the condition widely experience tender points upon pressing around the affected joint. Muscle stiffness and atrophy may occur. The muscles around the shoulder, such as the deltoid and supraspinatus, can become stiff during the onset, and disuse atrophy may occur in the later stages.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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How to exercise with frozen shoulder

In clinical practice, there are various exercise methods for patients with periarthritis of the shoulder. The main purpose of these exercises is to restore the normal range of motion of the shoulder joint, thereby fully restoring the patient's normal functions. Patients with periarthritis can perform exercises like climbing walls by touching the wall or gradually pulling up on a horizontal bar to strengthen shoulder functions. Additionally, it is necessary to actively apply local heat, minimize local irritation, persistently use topical ointments that activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis, and take oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and blood-activating drugs to treat and improve the symptoms of shoulder pain effectively. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Qiu Xiang Zhong
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of periarthritis of the shoulder

Periarthritis of the shoulder generally occurs in people over 40 years old, with the most common symptom being pain in the shoulder joint. Initially, there may be a soreness and pain in the shoulder, which is milder during the day and often worsens at night. The pain may intensify with changes in weather or after exposure to cold. In later stages, the pain may gradually spread around the entire shoulder joint and may involve the neck, scapular area, deltoid muscle, upper arm, or the lateral side of the forearm. Periarthritis not only causes shoulder pain, but also leads to restricted movement of the shoulder. This manifests as difficulties in simple actions that require raising the arms, such as combing hair, dressing, or scratching an itch. In advanced stages of periarthritis, there may also be muscle atrophy in the shoulder, particularly in the lateral deltoid muscle, which intensifies the movement disorders of the shoulder joint, resulting in difficulties in lifting the upper arm and extending it backward. Shoulder pain is not solely caused by periarthritis and should not be self-diagnosed. If shoulder pain occurs, it is advisable to seek medical treatment at a hospital.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of Periarthritis of the Shoulder

Periarthritis of the shoulder refers to aseptic inflammation of the ligaments, joint capsules, and tendons around the shoulder joint due to chronic strain. This condition is characterized by localized pain, limited mobility, and typically rest pain. There is limited ability to perform movements such as abduction, elevation, and extension during active motion, and an increase in pain during passive movement. It is also necessary to rule out injuries to the rotator cuff or labrum to diagnose periarthritis of the shoulder.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of Periarthritis of Shoulder

Periarthritis of the shoulder refers to the aseptic inflammation of the joint capsule, ligaments, and tendons around the shoulder joint due to chronic strain. This results in localized pain and restricted mobility. Additionally, the shoulder joint is affected during active actions such as lifting, abducting, and extending. During passive lifting activities, the pain may worsen. Also, pain is notably more severe at rest during the night. In the morning, there can be joint stiffness, which may ease after some movement, reducing both stiffness and pain.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Where does periarthritis of the shoulder hurt?

Periarthritis of the shoulder generally refers to a sterile inflammatory response due to chronic strain in the tendons, ligaments, and joint capsule around the shoulder joint, commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly women, and is a self-limiting disease. Clinically, it is referred to as frozen shoulder, or fifty shoulder. With the occurrence of periarthritis of the shoulder, there will be pain around the shoulder joint, particularly where the tendons and ligaments attach, with the pain covering a wide area and notably manifesting as resting pain at night. In the early stages of periarthritis, it should be managed with rest and appropriate physical therapies, including infrared therapy, among others, to alleviate inflammation and relieve pain. When necessary, oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and pain relief medications may be used to ease the symptoms, along with appropriate functional exercises to prevent shoulder joint stiffness due to prolonged immobility. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)