Frozen shoulder syndrome, called adhesive capsulitis in medical literature, is a chronic muscle-joint disorder that manifests itself with intense pain and limitation of movement in the shoulder joint.

What is Frozen Shoulder Syndrome?

Frozen shoulder syndrome (Adhesive Capsulitis) is a muscle-joint disorder that occurs with the hardening of the soft tissues and joint capsule around the shoulder joints and presents itself as severe shoulder pain, causing limitation of movement in the person.

Frozen shoulder is usually seen on the front and sides of the shoulder. Although it is an inflammatory disorder, it also falls into the category of orthopedic diseases.

In frozen shoulder syndrome, people become unable to perform simple daily movements over time. Frozen shoulder syndrome, which causes limitation of movement in activities that require raising one's arms, such as wearing clothes and raising one's hand on the back, negatively affects the quality of life. 

What Causes Frozen Shoulder Syndrome?

Although the exact cause of frozen shoulder disease is not known exactly, when some factors that trigger the disease are taken into consideration, it occurs when the area around the shoulder capsule joint thickens and becomes trapped between bones, ligaments and tendons, creating restriction of movement. 

Frozen shoulder syndrome can also develop after past shoulder injuries, tendon tears, inflammatory rheumatism, orthopedic disorders such as calcification or surgical interventions.

In addition, frozen shoulder syndrome may occur as a result of pressure on the nerves around the shoulder in neck hernia and calcifications. 

What Are the Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder Syndrome?

The first symptom seen in Frozen Shoulder Syndrome is severe shoulder pain. After the intensifying pain process, movement restriction begins, which negatively affects the quality of daily life.

Main Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder Syndrome;

• Pain that is severe enough to disrupt sleep patterns at night
• Shoulder pain that increases when lying on the arm
• Sudden pain when performing simple daily activities (such as getting dressed, combing hair)
• Severe shoulder pain that persists throughout the day, even when resting
• Inability to raise or rotate the arm beyond a certain point.

What Are the Stages of Frozen Shoulder Syndrome?

Frozen shoulder syndrome first manifests itself with shoulder pain. If no precautions are taken, the pain will decrease in intensity over time, causing people to face difficulties in maintaining their daily lives with limitation of movement. Considering the symptoms, frozen shoulder can heal on its own in a period of 12 to 24 months. But on the other hand, regular medical exercises, medical massage, dorm therapy, manual therapyIt is also possible to recover in a shorter time with various physical therapy models such as chiropractic therapy.

We can examine the course of frozen frozen shoulder syndrome in three stages;

• The first stage is the period when the pain begins. During this period, movements gradually begin to be limited. Night pains intensify, this period lasts for 6 to 9 months.
• The second stage is the period when the pain subsides but the shoulder gradually hardens and begins to freeze. In this period, people cannot perform even the simplest daily movements such as tightening a simple place with a screwdriver, combing hair, taking a shower. Although this period varies from person to person, it lasts about 4 to 12 months.
• The third stage is the dissolution stage. The pains decrease even more and the shoulder gradually begins to regain its ability to move. In order for the full recovery to take place, it is expected that the arm is doing all the movements properly and that it regains its former strength. This process takes about 6 months to 2 years.

Who Gets Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen Shoulder Syndrome is more common in women than in men and is generally observed in people between the ages of 40-65.

lung disease, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidismPeople with diseases such as tuberculosis and Parkinson's, and people at risk of heart attack are more likely to have frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder is a condition seen in one in five diabetic patients and is more common in people with a sedentary lifestyle.

What is Frozen Shoulder Syndrome Treatment?

Although frozen shoulder syndrome is a self-healing condition, since the healing process takes a long time, it can improve in a short time with painkillers, physical therapy, medical exercise and medical massage methods. 

In the treatment of frozen shoulder syndrome, medical treatment and physical therapy are carried out together. In the treatment of frozen shoulder, medication is primarily used to control the shoulder pain. Painkillers, muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve the patient's aggravating pain and prevent the increase in inflammation. 

What is Manual Therapy for Frozen Shoulder Syndrome?

It is the second stage of the treatment of medical exercise and manual therapy applications with the aim of ensuring the patency of the shoulder joint in order to prevent the movement restriction that occurs in the shoulder during medical treatment. In order to relax the shoulder muscles and increase blood flow by manual manipulation method, hot and cold applications together with manual therapy target the hardening and thickening of the shoulder capsule. 

What is Medical Exercise in Frozen Shoulder Syndrome?

With manual therapy, the pain seen on the shoulder is alleviated, the shoulder reaches a certain range of motion, and medical exercise applications are started simultaneously. Medical exercises are exercises to strengthen the shoulder joints. It is aimed to reduce or prevent movement restriction by assisting manual therapy with medical exercises. 

Frozen shoulder syndrome can be completely healed with the application of regular exercises given by physiotherapists after manual therapy and medical exercises. Although there may be differences in the recovery period depending on the body type and shoulder deformation, people with frozen shoulder syndrome can return to their old lives in a healthier way.

What Happens If Frozen Shoulder Syndrome Is Not Treated?

If freezing shoulder syndrome is not treated under the control of a specialist physiotherapist, the disease process of the patients can continue for 2 to 10 years. People with frozen shoulder syndrome may not be able to perform even the simplest movements in their daily lives, and their complaints such as pain and burning may not change for a long time.