Shoulder periarthritis is what?

Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
Updated on September 16, 2024
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The so-called periarthritis of the shoulder is a sterile inflammation of the shoulder region caused by overexertion, straining stimuli, exposure to cold, or external injuries. It is primarily characterized by pain around the shoulder, especially during shoulder lifting, where the pain becomes more pronounced and can seriously affect the patient's normal shoulder-lifting function. This condition often occurs in middle-aged and elderly patients. Common treatments for periarthritis of the shoulder include rest and protection, local heat application, and local injection treatment for specific pain points. Additionally, topical ointments that invigorate blood and dissipate stasis can be used, along with oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs to alleviate the patient's pain symptoms.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 50sec home-news-image

How to cure periarthritis of the shoulder using the arm-swinging method?

In the treatment of periarthritis of the shoulder, there is a method called "arm-swinging". The main technique of arm-swinging involves swinging the shoulder joint inward, outward, forward, and backward, forming a circle with the shoulder joint. This circle is actually two circles: one from the front to the back, and another from the back to the front. The arm-swinging method should be very effective for treating periarthritis of the shoulder, but the following issues need to be noted: First, it is crucial to exclude any rotator cuff injuries, especially tears in the supraspinatus or infraspinatus muscles. If tears in the supraspinatus or infraspinatus muscles occur, the arm-swinging method is not recommended due to its "zipper effect." This refers to a small initial tear that could further enlarge through improper exercise, eventually becoming a large tear. Thus, the first point is to rule out rotator cuff injuries. Second, when performing the arm-swinging method, one should not rush and should progress gradually. Initially, the range may be very small or the movement may not be possible to perform, but with consistent and persistent practice, the range of motion will gradually increase, making arm-swinging easier. However, rushing may lead to muscle tears around the shoulder joint or tear injuries to the joint capsule. Third, although the arm-swinging method can have a beneficial effect in treating periarthritis of the shoulder, starting the exercise can be very painful. Therefore, it may be necessary to use other methods initially, such as taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs orally, or undergoing massage or physiotherapy, to relax the muscles and ligaments around the shoulder joint. This can reduce pain during the arm-swinging exercises and enhance effectiveness.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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How to exercise for frozen shoulder

Periarthritis, also known as frozen shoulder in clinical terms, is generally caused by chronic strain leading to aseptic inflammation of tendons, ligaments, and joint capsules around the shoulder joint. This results in symptoms of pain and limited mobility, particularly pain at night, with both active and passive movements likely to be restricted. In such cases, besides rest and physiotherapy, and the use of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, it is also essential to engage in appropriate functional exercises for the shoulder joint to avoid with the goal of restoring its function. For instance, the shoulder joint should perform active bending, stretching, and abduction movements, as well as circumduction movements of the shoulder joint. These exercises aim to restore the function of the ligaments and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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Early symptoms of periarthritis of the shoulder

The early symptoms of periarthritis of the shoulder are pain in the shoulder and limited movement of the shoulder joint, especially the action of raising the arm, which is clearly restricted. Therefore, for the treatment of this condition, it is encouraged that patients engage in functional exercises early on. If one fears the pain and dares not to move the shoulder joint, it will lead to stiffness of the joint and atrophy of the surrounding muscles. Generally speaking, periarthritis of the shoulder is a self-limiting disease with a typical duration of about one year. If you can raise your shoulder and perform normal activities within a year, then there will be no residual sequelae afterwards. However, if within a year, the shoulder joint becomes stiff and its movement becomes limited, then after a year, the symptoms of shoulder pain will significantly improve, but there will be some loss of range of motion in the joint. Therefore, for all patients with periarthritis of the shoulder, early functional exercise is encouraged to avoid symptoms such as joint effusion, joint stiffness, and muscle atrophy.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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How is periarthritis of the shoulder treated?

Periarthritis of the shoulder refers to the symptoms of local pain and restricted movement caused by aseptic chronic inflammatory reactions in the tendons, ligaments, and joint capsules around the shoulder joint. Appropriate immobilization and rest are necessary when periarthritis of the shoulder occurs, and physical therapy methods such as infrared lamps and physiotherapy can be used to alleviate the local inflammatory response. It is also important to perform appropriate functional exercises to prevent the shoulder joint from becoming stiff due to prolonged immobilization. If the pain symptoms are severe, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relief medications can be chosen for symptomatic treatment to relieve pain. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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What should I do about periarthritis of the shoulder?

Periarthritis of the shoulder commonly occurs in middle-aged and elderly patients. The causes of the disease are mainly due to degenerative changes in soft tissues, chronic injuries caused by long-term overexertion, poor posture, or improper treatment recovery after shoulder injuries. Patients with periarthritis of the shoulder may experience pain and limited movement in the shoulder. It is important to rest, keep warm, and use anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications. Traditional Chinese Medicine that promotes blood circulation and removes stasis can be used to improve symptoms and promote recovery. Additionally, treatment can include hot compresses, physical therapy, massage, pain point blockade, and exercises to enhance the function of the shoulder joint. These methods can actively improve symptoms. If conservative treatment is ineffective or if functional impairments occur, surgical treatment may also be considered.