What Can I Expect During My Frozen Shoulder Therapy Session?
If you're suffering from frozen shoulder, read on to learn more about your condition and what you can expect during your frozen shoulder therapy session.
Frozen shoulder is also called adhesive capsulitis. This describes a flaring of pain in the shoulder joint that seems to appear out of nowhere.
This issue is most commonly experienced by women between the ages of forty and sixty. The condition usually occurs in three stages. The first stage is known as the freezing phase. A patient typically reports experiencing pain at this point without much stiffness. The second phase is called the frozen phase. By now the patient experiences less pain but the shoulder joint is stiff and difficult to move. Lastly is the thawing phase, where the discomfort fades away. Sometimes frozen shoulder can eventually improve by itself. Unfortunately, this process can take as long as two years.
The first visit to your therapist will involve a thorough history and examination of the shoulder. With this information at their disposal, the therapist should be able to properly assess the situation. If a patient is in the freezing phase, medication or gentle physical therapy can help maintain the range of motion in the joint. Steroids might also be used. If the condition does not improve, surgery might be the best course of action.
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