Early symptoms of periarthritis of the shoulder

Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
Updated on January 29, 2025
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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 Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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Exercises for Periarthritis of the Shoulder

For the exercise methods of periarthritis of the shoulder, there are various exercise methods for patients with periarthritis of the shoulder in clinical practice. For instance, it is appropriate to gradually perform exercises such as pull-ups, but it is important to progress slowly and not be too vigorous at once, as this may cause potential damage to the shoulder joint capsule. Another exercise involves the "wall-crawling" movement to enhance the mobility of the shoulder joint and prevent stiffness. Additionally, for patients with severe pain from periarthritis of the shoulder, some medical treatments can be combined, such as using topical plasters that activate blood circulation and relieve stasis, oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and blood-activating drugs, as well as local treatments like heat application, small needle knife therapy, or injection therapy.

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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 Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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Where does periarthritis of the shoulder hurt?

Usually, patients with periarthritis of the shoulder mainly exhibit pain around the shoulder joint area, and severe cases may affect the normal function of lifting the shoulder. This is mainly due to long periods of excessive fatigue, friction, and irritation, causing aseptic inflammation around the shoulder area, which manifests as pain. Common treatments aim to alleviate the patient's pain symptoms. For instance, topical ointments that promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis can be used, as well as oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relief medications to ease patient's pain. For cases with specific pain points, localized injections can also be performed, along with functional exercises such as wall climbing actions to exercise the mobility of the shoulder joint and prevent joint stiffness.

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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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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.)