Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder is a little more obvious than the other things I’ve talked about, as far as it being something physical therapists treat. It falls into the category of “My shoulder isn’t working right,” right behind “My back hurts.” PTs would love to see you for either, truly.
Is frozen shoulder the same thing as a rotator cuff injury?
No. A rotator cuff injury occurs when one of the muscles or tendons that allow your shoulder to rotate develops a tear. Frozen shoulder, called adhesive capsulitis if you want to get fancy, usually happens when the tissues surrounding the shoulder are inflamed and restrict movement. So, “frozen” here means lack of mobility, not low temperature.
But! You shouldn’t need to worry too much about telling the difference yourself since your physical therapist should know the differences and how to treat them both. PTs go through a lot of school so they can help you and so you don’t have to learn every tendon, nerve, and bone landmark in the body.
"Me | Yearning." by afunkydamsel is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Can I get frozen shoulder even if I haven’t had an injury?
Yes! Some causes of frozen shoulder include: immobilization of the arm for an extended period of time, pain from other conditions, autoimmune reactions, and reactions after injury or surgery.
If I go to PT for this, what should I expect?
PT for frozen shoulder often involves exercise (surprise!), manual therapy, and heat or ice. They should also give you some info on how to protect your shoulder while you’re engaging in the therapy process. This includes at home, too! Therapy and recovery doesn’t only happen while you’re in the presence of a medical doctor or rehab professional.
If you’re interested in learning more, I suggest going to this site next:
