Winter time must prevent “frozen shoulder”

  Frozen shoulder, also known as frozen shoulder, is a kind of aseptic inflammation of the shoulder joint that occurs in people around the age of fifty, so it is also called “fifty shoulder”. Freezing shoulder is related to degenerative changes in old age and is caused by reduced shoulder activity due to old age and weakness, shoulder strain or rheumatism or after trauma.  In winter, due to the cold climate, some patients have an acute onset of the disease, often caused by the shoulder being frozen at night while sleeping, which is what Chinese medicine refers to as wind and cold invasion that causes the blockage of Qi and blood.  The duration of frozen shoulder is long, often a few months, but more often up to one or two years. Both shoulders can alternate, but it is rare for both shoulders to be affected at the same time. The disease can heal on its own in about a year and a half, but it takes a long time, is painful, and does not fully recover. Between 20% and 30% of people with frozen shoulder will also have cervical spondylosis. The most ideal and simple way to prevent frozen shoulder is to insist on physical exercise, such as playing tai chi and doing exercises, and pay attention to keeping the shoulder warm to prevent wind, cold and dampness.  For early stage frozen shoulder patients who suffer from pain during rest, strong pain relievers can be applied. Acupuncture and acupuncture, as well as the closure of the shoulder pain points with drugs can also play a significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic role. At the same time, focus on functional exercises of the shoulder, such as arm climbing wall exercises. For those patients with stubborn frozen shoulder, surgery can be used. After surgery, combined with an active physical rehabilitation program, the results are very good, usually six to nine months to heal.