The holiday season is just around the corner, but it seems to be bringing more than just sparkling lights and eggnog. I've been seeing a lot of frozen shoulders and rotator cuff injuries within the last month or so. Here is some general information regarding shoulder health and these two types of conditions:
Rotator Cuff Injuries
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that act as the primary stabilizers of the shoulder joint. Typical injuries to the rotator cuff include sprains/strains, tendinitis, tendinopathy, and tears (partial or complete). Inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons occurs due to overuse. This is common in people who need to repetitively use their arms and shoulders (i.e. painters reaching upwards, pitchers throwing the baseball, swimmers bringing their arms overhead, etc.). Eventually, gradual wear and tear of the tendons can cause tendinopathy (degeneration) or result in a tear. Rotator cuff tears can not only occur due to overuse, but they can also be as a result of direct trauma (i.e. after a fall or a motor vehicle accident). Common signs and symptoms of a rotator cuff injury include the following: avoiding certain activities due to pain (i.e. brushing your hair, doing up your bra, putting on your coat, etc.), limited shoulder range of motion, difficulty sleeping on the affected shoulder, and progressive weakness. It can be diagnosed by an ultrasound or MRI. If you experience any of these for longer than a week, make sure you seek a professional in order to avoid a frozen shoulder.
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition where the tissues (capsule) around the shoulder thicken, scar, and tighten around the joint, causing pain and limited range of motion. Frozen shoulder is most common in females between 40 to 60 years of age. The cause of frozen shoulder is not understood. A few factors may put you at a higher risk of developing frozen shoulder, such as an underlying condition (i.e. diabetes, stroke, etc.) or previous shoulder trauma or immobilization. The diagnosis is clinical, but imaging tests can be done to rule out other conditions. Frozen shoulder occurs in three phases: freezing, frozen, and thawing. The "freezing" stage usually lasts 2 to 9 months. During this stage, pain is predominant, and there is a gradual loss in range of motion with increasing stiffness. The "frozen" stage lasts up to a year. Pain starts to ease off, but the shoulder becomes very stiff, and all movements are quite limited. During the "thawing" phase, which can last between 1 and 3 years, movement progressively returns back to normal. Recovery from a frozen shoulder is slow, as your body must go through each phase. Physiotherapy is a common treatment for frozen shoulder to relieve pain. An exercise program consisting of stretching and general range of motion is important to regain function.
If you or a loved one are experiencing shoulder pain or loss of function, make sure you seek a professional immediately. The shoulder is one of the most flexible joints in the body and very susceptible to injury. Loss of mobility or function in this joint is detrimental and quite disabling.
