How to diagnose frozen shoulder

Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
Updated on September 28, 2024
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How is periarthritis of shoulder diagnosed? Periarthritis of shoulder is a self-limiting disease that mainly affects middle-aged and elderly women. The primary symptoms are pain in the shoulder accompanied by limited mobility of the shoulder joint. So how is periarthritis of shoulder diagnosed? Firstly, medical history is very important. Diagnosis is determined based on the medical history. Additionally, an MRI of the shoulder joint can be performed to clarify whether there is adhesion of the muscles and tendons within the joint, which causes limited mobility of the shoulder joint, in order to further confirm the diagnosis. Thus, the diagnosis of periarthritis of shoulder is based first on the medical history and the characteristics of the onset of the disease, and also on the MRI of the shoulder joint to confirm the diagnosis.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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How to treat periarthritis of the shoulder?

Periarthritis of the shoulder generally refers to the aseptic inflammation around the shoulder joint, which is common in middle-aged and elderly women. It is caused by chronic strain of the shoulder joint, affecting the surrounding muscles, tendons, joint capsules, and ligaments. First, it is important to rest and you can promote blood circulation around the area with appropriate physiotherapy, such as hot compresses and acupuncture, to facilitate the repair of the damaged area. At the same time, appropriate exercise should be carried out to avoid stiffness of the joint that can occur with prolonged immobility or passive restraint.

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Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
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How to massage for frozen shoulder

The disease known as periarthritis of the shoulder is also called frozen shoulder, adhesive capsulitis, or fifty-year-old shoulder, as it most commonly appears in middle-aged and elderly people around the age of 50. It is characterized by spasms, tension, and adhesion in the shoulder muscles, and sometimes may also involve dysfunction of the shoulder joint. Thus, for the treatment of periarthritis of the shoulder, massage techniques are generally employed. The purpose of the massage is primarily to relieve muscle tension, adhesions, and to relax the patient mentally. The technique must be gentle and not violent; local muscles can be massaged. On the affected side of the shoulder periarthritis, it can be found that the muscles are particularly tense. Massaging tender points gently can help relax these tense muscles, but one must ensure not to use rough techniques. Additionally, local acupoint massage of the shoulder can be performed, such as massaging common acupoints like Jianjing and Quyuan, which can also help alleviate pain. Simultaneously, combining these with physical therapy measures such as heat therapy, moxibustion, and acupuncture can yield better results.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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What is periarthritis of the shoulder?

The so-called periarthritis of the shoulder is often caused by prolonged excessive stretching and irritation around the shoulder, external injuries, or exposure to cold, leading to aseptic inflammation in the shoulder area. Patients typically exhibit significant pain symptoms in the shoulder area, and in severe cases, it can cause local muscle atrophy and joint stiffness, which are characteristic of periarthritis of the shoulder. For the treatment of periarthritis, conservative measures can be actively pursued, such as applying topical ointments that invigorate the blood and dispel stasis, taking oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, and medications that invigorate the blood and dispel stasis. Small needle knife surgery can also be considered. Activities like wall climbing can be performed to exercise the mobility of the shoulder joint. (Note: The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
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How to exercise for frozen shoulder

Periarthritis of the shoulder, commonly presents with shoulder pain, stiffness, or worsening of pain with movement. This condition is frequently seen in individuals around 50 years old, more often in women than men, and commonly among physical laborers. Without timely treatment, it can exacerbate the functional mobility of the shoulder joint, making everyday tasks like combing hair, dressing, washing the face, or placing hands on hips difficult. In severe cases, it could even affect elbow mobility. Early intervention typically involves exercise; despite discomfort, it is essential to persist and may require analgesics or drugs that promote blood circulation and stop bleeding. Exercises like "wall climbing," using horizontal bars, or stretching within doorframes aim to equalize the range of motion between the affected limb and a healthy shoulder joint. Both active and passive movements, such as swinging the arms forward and backward for 50 repetitions each morning, can provide relief. The process should be gradual and progressively intensified. If self-directed exercise proves ineffective, interventions like injections can be administered by a physician, which relieve pain by detaching the sticky interactions among ligaments, muscles, and tendons in the shoulder area, thereby easing the symptoms over time. Continuous pain may persist for a while; alternatively, brachial plexus or cervical plexus anesthesia followed by manual reduction can significantly reduce pain and gradually alleviate symptoms.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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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.