What causes a frozen shoulder?

March 21st — admin

What causes a frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder is also known as adhesive capsulitis. It is a loss of shoulder motion due to tight soft tissues around the shoulder. A restricted joint capsule is also part of the problem. Pain and limited motion usually result in loss of function as well. Muscle weakness and atrophy then develop from disuse.

The actual cause and underlying pathology behind a frozen shoulder are still unknown. People with diabetes, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk for frozen shoulder syndrome. Trauma to the shoulder can also lead to adhesive capsulitis.

There are several theories to help explain this condition. Anything that changes the way the shoulder moves and results in impaired shoulder movements can lead to shoulder capsule adhesions.

Adhesions are little areas of scar tissue that bind two areas of tissue together. When there are adhesions, the joint capsule doesn’t move smoothly. Then the soft tissues around the joint start to contract and tighten up.

A cycle of pain-spasm-loss of motion-pain can develop. This keeps the individual from regaining lost motion. In addition, there is an area of extra capsular material called the capsular redundancy or axillary recess that gets stuck.

This part of the capsule is at the bottom of the shoulder joint. As the arm moves up overhead, the capsule unfolds to allow smooth gliding action. When adhesions develop within this fold, the capsule can no longer unfold and motion stops.

Again, no one is sure which comes first: loss of capsular motion and unfolding or impaired shoulder motion. Treatment for the frozen shoulder syndrome focuses on restoring both.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com. The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of a visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Anthroscopic surgery for a frozen shoulder.

January 17th — admin

Next week I’m going to have arthroscopic surgery for a frozen shoulder. The surgeon has explained everything to me. Just the front part of my shoulder capsule will be cut. I’m wondering if they don’t release the back part, too will I still get my full motion back?

Frozen shoulder also known as adhesive capsulitis is used to describe a loss of shoulder motion caused by changes in the shoulder joint capsule. The capsule is an envelope of connective tissue that surrounds the shoulder joint.

Injury and inflammation can start the process leading to adhesive capsulitis. Painful motion causes the person to stop moving the shoulder, and it gets bound down. It can also occur as a result of other conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease.

It was once thought that changes throughout the capsule are what caused the tightness. It is true that with a frozen shoulder, there is fibroplasia throughout the capsule. Fibroplasia refers to the formation of fibrous scar tissue.

But surgeons found that by releasing just the anterior (front) part of the capsule restores shoulder motion. Further research showed that a particular protein called vimentin is what really leads to anterior contracture (tightness) of the capsule.

By releasing the anterior capsular structures, motion is restored throughout the joint for most people. Frozen shoulder can range from loss of external rotation and abduction (moving the arm away from the body) to a complete loss of all motion. More extensive surgery may be needed for more extreme cases.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com. The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of a visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Is it possible to get a frozen knee?

January 10th — admin

I’ve heard of a frozen shoulder before. Is it possible to get a frozen knee?

A frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis occurs when the shoulder stiffens up. There’s usually pain and always a loss of motion. The process involves thickening and contracture of the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint.

A “frozen knee” is possible. Like the shoulder, loss of motion is the defining symptom although the patient often has pain as well. This condition in the knee is most common after a knee injury, chronic bursitis, or a total knee replacement.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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How did I get adhesive capsulitis – a frozen shoulder?

September 25th — admin
My doctor diagnosed my tight shoulder as “adhesive capsulitis.” What is this, and how did it happen?

 
Adhesive capsulitis, also called “frozen shoulder,” is a condition in which the shoulder becomes tight and painful, making it difficult to do daily activities.

With frozen shoulder, inflammation in the joint causes the lining surrounding the joint to stick together. This causes the shoulder to “freeze” and seriously limits movement.

It’s hard to say how you got a frozen shoulder. Most cases can’t be traced to one event. One theory is that this condition is caused by an auto-immune reaction. An auto-immune reaction happens when the body’s defense system, which normally protects it from infection, mistakenly begins to attack the tissues of the body.

A frozen shoulder may arise gradually, with no injury or warning. It sometimes happens to people who’ve had past shoulder problems, such as rotator cuff tendonitis or bursitis. Others are affected after surgeries unrelated to the shoulder–even after heart attacks. The condition likely results when pain or inflammation in the shoulder causes a person to start using the shoulder less, setting the stage for a frozen shoulder.

 
The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com

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