Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder): Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.

Explore Frozen Shoulder With Vitality Chiropractic Australia

At Vitality Chiropractic Australia, we specialize in helping you regain mobility and live pain-free through expert chiropractic care. If you’re struggling with adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as frozen shoulder, our team is here to provide tailored treatments to alleviate pain, restore movement, and improve your quality of life. Learn about this condition, its symptoms, causes, and how our chiropractic services can help you recover faster.

What is Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)?

Adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, is a debilitating condition that causes pain, stiffness, and significant loss of shoulder mobility. The shoulder joint becomes restricted, making everyday tasks like reaching, lifting, or even dressing challenging. This condition is characterized by a marked reduction in both active range of motion (movements you control) and passive range of motion (movements guided by a practitioner), which is a hallmark feature of frozen shoulder syndrome.While the exact cause of frozen shoulder remains unclear, it typically affects individuals aged 40 to 60, with women being more prone than men. Approximately 2-5% of the population will experience adhesive capsulitis at some point in their lives, and it rarely affects both shoulders simultaneously. At Vitality Chiropractic Australia, we use advanced diagnostic techniques and personalized treatment plans to address frozen shoulder symptoms and help you regain function.

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Phases of Frozen Shoulder

Adhesive capsulitis progresses through three distinct phases, each with unique symptoms:

Freezing Phase (Painful Phase)
- Symptoms: Gradual onset of shoulder pain that worsens over time, often persisting for weeks to months. Pain may be intense, especially at night, disrupting sleep.
- Impact: Everyday activities like lifting or reaching become painful and difficult.
Frozen Phase (Stiffening Phase)
- Symptoms: Progressive loss of shoulder mobility, with stiffness becoming the dominant issue. Both active and passive movements are significantly restricted.
- Impact: Tasks requiring shoulder movement, such as putting on a jacket or reaching overhead, become nearly impossible.
Thawing Phase (Recovery Phase)
- Symptoms: Slow but steady improvement in shoulder mobility and a reduction in pain. This phase can last months to years.
- Impact: Gradual return to normal function, though full recovery may require professional intervention.

Our chiropractors at Vitality Chiropractic Australia are skilled in managing all phases of frozen shoulder, using non-invasive techniques to reduce pain, improve mobility, and accelerate recovery.

Causes and Risk Factors of Adhesive Capsulitis

The exact cause of adhesive capsulitis is often unknown, leading to its classification as primary adhesive capsulitis (idiopathic). However, it can also be secondary adhesive capsulitis, triggered by identifiable factors such as:

Diabetes Mellitus: Individuals with diabetes are up to five times more likely to develop frozen shoulder due to changes in connective tissue.
Previous Shoulder Injury or Surgery: Trauma or immobilization can lead to secondary adhesive capsulitis.
Thyroid Disorders: Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism may increase the risk.
Autoimmune Conditions: Certain autoimmune diseases may contribute to inflammation in the shoulder joint.
Prolonged Immobilization: Lack of movement, such as after a stroke or surgery, can trigger stiffness.

While imaging (e.g., X-rays or MRIs) typically shows no abnormalities in the shoulder joint, a thorough clinical assessment is crucial for accurate diagnosis. At Vitality Chiropractic Australia, our experienced chiropractors perform comprehensive evaluations to identify the root cause of your shoulder pain and tailor a treatment plan to your needs.

Conditions Which Mimic Adhesive Capsulitis

Several conditions can present with similar symptoms to adhesive capsulitis, making accurate diagnosis critical. These include:

Shoulder Joint Osteoarthritis: Causes pain and limited movement but is typically identified through imaging showing joint degeneration.
Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: Affects the supraspinatus tendon, causing pain during arm abduction, though other movements often remain normal.
Shoulder Bursitis: Presents with pain and stiffness but usually allows greater range of motion than frozen shoulder.
Rotator Cuff Injury: Leads to reduced strength and range of motion, with imaging revealing tendon damage.
Glenohumeral Joint Dislocation: Typically follows trauma and is associated with visible deformity or instability.

Our chiropractors use advanced diagnostic tools, including physical examinations and outcome measures, to differentiate frozen shoulder from these conditions and ensure you receive the right treatment.

Chiropractic Assessment for Frozen Shoulder

We take a holistic approach to diagnosing and treating adhesive capsulitis. During your initial consultation, our chiropractors will perform a thorough physical examination to assess your condition, which may include:

Observation: Checking for scapular winging, shoulder asymmetry, or poor posture that may contribute to your symptoms.
Range of Motion Testing: Evaluating shoulder, cervical, and thoracic spine mobility to determine the extent of restriction.
Muscle Strength Testing: Assessing the strength of shoulder muscles to identify weaknesses or imbalances.
Neurological and Orthopaedic Testing: Examining dermatomes, myotomes, and reflexes to rule out serious conditions like cervical spine pathology.
Outcome Measures: Using standardized tools such as:
- Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)
- Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Scale (DASH)
- Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain assessment
- SF-36 to evaluate overall health and quality of life

These assessments help us create a personalized treatment plan to address your specific symptoms and goals.

Best Natural Treatment For Frozen Shoulder

While adhesive capsulitis is often a self-limiting condition, recovery can take 1-3 years without intervention. We offer non-invasive, evidence-based treatments to reduce pain, restore mobility, and shorten recovery time. Our treatment approach includes:

Chiropractic Adjustments: Gentle manipulations to improve joint mobility in the shoulder, cervical, and thoracic spine.
Manual Therapy: Soft tissue techniques, such as myofascial release, to reduce muscle tension and improve circulation.
Physical Therapy: Customized exercises to restore range of motion, strengthen shoulder muscles, and prevent re-injury.
Anti-Inflammatory Measures: Advice on lifestyle changes, such as diet and heat/cold therapy, to manage inflammation.
Rehabilitation Exercises: Home-based exercises to support long-term recovery and maintain shoulder function.
Posture Correction: Guidance on improving posture to reduce strain on the shoulder joint.

Our goal is to help you progress through the thawing phase faster and return to your daily activities without pain or restriction.

Chiropractic & Physiotherapy

Physical therapy such as provided by Chiropractors & Physiotherapist’s assist individuals with improving range of motion, reducing pain and therefore improving quality of life. Treatment that may be administered by such professionals may include:

Mobilization of the cervical and thoracic spine and shoulder girdle complex
Soft tissue massage to the shoulder structures to assist with pain reduction and mobility
Postural exercise advice to assist with scapular and shoulder stability
Physiological therapeutics such as Ultrasound, Shockwave therapy and low level laser treatment to assist with reducing inflammation

Corticosteroid Injections

Corticosteroid injections are regularly used to assist with inflammation and pain reduction and may lead to shortening of disease length. Ultimately, corticosteroid injections have been shown to have success rates ranging from 44-80% with particular improvement in general function within weeks of procedure.

Why Choose Vitality Chiropractic Australia?

We are committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered care. Our experienced chiropractors are trained in the latest techniques to manage adhesive capsulitis and other musculoskeletal conditions. Here’s why patients trust us as the best chiropractors for adhesive capsulitis treatment:

Personalized Treatment Plans: We tailor our approach to your unique needs and recovery goals.
Holistic Care: We address the root cause of your condition, not just the symptoms.
Non-Invasive Solutions: Our treatments focus on natural, drug-free methods to promote healing.

Chiropractor Adhesive Capsulitis Research

Individuals suffering from Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder) demonstrated greater improvement following high-grade shoulder mobilization techniques compared to low-grade mobilization techniques. Vermeulen, H. (2006). Comparison of high-grade and low-grade mobilization techniques in the management of Adhesive Capsulitis of the shoulder: Randomized controlled trial. Physical Therapy, 86(3); 355 – 368.
Majority of patients presenting with Adhesive Capsulitis demonstrated clinically significant improvement following Chiropractic management consisting of cervical, thoracic and shoulder joint manipulative therapy. Murphy, F. et al., (2012). Chiropractic management of frozen shoulder syndrome using a novel technique: a retrospective case series of 50 patients. The Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 11(4); 267 – 272.

Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder) usually affects one shoulder at a time.

Additional Information

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