What is periarthritis of the shoulder?

Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
Updated on June 11, 2025
00:00
00:00

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.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
46sec home-news-image

Causes of Periarthritis of Shoulder

Periarthritis of the shoulder is mainly caused by chronic damage and degeneration of the joint which leads to chronic wear and tear, as well as aseptic inflammation in the tendons, ligaments, and joint capsule around the shoulder joint, resulting in pain and limited mobility around the shoulder. To diagnose periarthritis of the shoulder, it is first necessary to rule out limited mobility of the shoulder joint due to trauma, such as injuries to the rotator cuff and other related conditions. Imaging studies like MRI can also be used to clarify and rule out rotator cuff injuries and other conditions, and a clear diagnosis can be made in conjunction with physical examination and etiology.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Su Zhen Bo
Orthopedics
1min home-news-image

Early symptoms of frozen shoulder

The patient is suffering from periarthritis of the shoulder, which is a type of aseptic inflammation. In the early stages, the primary symptom is a subjective feeling of pain in the shoulder, which tends to worsen at night. The skin and muscle tissues around the shoulder become adhesive and hardened, and touching the area can distinctly feel stiffness and hardening. At the same time, the range of motion in the shoulder joint decreases, and moving the joint can intensify the pain. Diagnostic clarity can be achieved through MRI scans and ultrasound examinations. In the early stages, topical plasters that reduce swelling and relieve pain can be used, along with acupuncture and moxibustion, and the application of analgesic medications. It is also necessary to strengthen shoulder joint function training under the guidance of a rehabilitation physician. Pendulum movements of the shoulder joint and arc movements can help alleviate pain and increase the range of motion of the shoulder joint.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
1min 6sec home-news-image

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.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
1min 12sec home-news-image

Shoulder periarthritis symptoms

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Qiu Xiang Zhong
Orthopedics
1min 10sec home-news-image

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.