Frozen shoulder, which is medically called Adhesive Capsulitis of the shoulder, is a condition characterized by a tingling pain and stiffness of the shoulder joints. It most commonly occurs in individuals who have their shoulders motionless for a long period of time. Diabetes is also an underlying factor in the development of this phenomenon. The disabled condition tends to get serious and aggravates if left untreated. Onlymyhealth editorial team talked to Dr. Veerendra Mudnoor, Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement Surgeon, Apollo Spectra Hospital Kondapur, Hyderabad, about the dos and don'ts of frozen shoulder.
Dos and don'ts for frozen shoulder
One of the main causes of frozen shoulder is immobility, which mostly happens after recovering from a shoulder injury or a stroke. In case of injuries around the shoulder muscles that make it difficult for the movement of the shoulder, a visit to a doctor is always advisable. According to Dr. Veerendra, here are some of the do’s and don’ts of a frozen shoulder are as follows:
Dos:
• Specialist consultation
Self-diagnosis or self-treating oneself should be avoided because this can worsen the pain and things can go wrong if not treated the right way. The doctor will conduct a physical examination to check the range of motion. Pain medications and some forms of exercise will be provided to help improve the state of shoulder muscles. Recovery might be smooth if all instructions are followed carefully for the treatment of the same.
• Postures
Sleeping and relaxing the body as much as possible, is recommended after any kind of injury. This reduces the inflammation of the joint muscles and helps in soothing the pain for some time. The postures while sleeping can be difficult to manage due to the throbbing aches on the arms, therefore it is advisable to sleep by resting the shoulder on a pillow. Avoiding any pressure on the affected area is recommended as much as possible to decrease further injuries.
Also read: What Is Frozen Shoulder? Here's Everything You Should Know About It
• Stretching exercises
Exercising by stretching the arms and the shoulder joints is a preferred way to cure the state of the shoulder quickly. Warming up by taking a bath is the best way to begin the exercise. It is advisable to consult a specialist and chalk out an exercise regimen and maintain an active lifestyle.
Don'ts:
• Avoid activities leading to pain
Making the arm move in various directions and forcing it to work better must be avoided completely. Healing the wounded region for quick recovery requires the shoulder to be mobile. Strenuous activities and outdoor activities like badminton or any other sport requiring the use of arms will worsen the pain and add more strain to the swollen muscles. If left untreated and not taken care of in proper intervals, the tendons and ligaments in the arm will start working even harder, resulting in another major condition known as tendonitis.
• Cut down unhealthy consumption
People with a frozen shoulder should at any chance, refrain from having all aggravating diets and lifestyle practices. Packaged food like chips, carbonated drinks, stale and fast food, refined flour, alcohol consumption, or any form of stimulants like tea and coffee should be avoided at any cost. Heavy weight lifting and such activities should be avoided or done with more caution.
Also read: Want To Get Rid Of A Frozen Shoulder? Try These 5 Exercises For Instant Relief
• Ignoring the underlying problems
Always talk about the underlying problems that might be disturbing your shoulder from moving. Ignoring the pain and suffering will worsen the injury even more and the condition will go out of hand. Therefore, consulting a doctor or any physician beforehand is always a better option than ignorance of the illness.
The full range of motion is not necessarily regained and the affected shoulder might pop up a bit higher than the other one while raising the hand or moving it above the head. Hence, sufficient treatment, well-equipped diagnostic techniques, and plenty of care, as well as appropriate amounts of exercise, might help the patient to recover their shoulder fully back to its original state. It is always advisable to consult a doctor and plan a suitable treatment plan based on the diagnosis.
Image credits: Freepik
