Due to the long-standing lack of awareness of shoulder diseases and the lack of orthopedic professional knowledge, “frozen shoulder” has become the scapegoat for many shoulder diseases. When patients go to the hospital with shoulder pain, they are simply diagnosed as “frozen shoulder” by many doctors, which leads to shoulder discomfort that is not cured for a long time, but gets heavier and heavier, making treatment more difficult. In fact, the clinical incidence of “frozen shoulder” only accounts for about 10% of shoulder pain. The highest incidence of shoulder joint pathology is rotator cuff injury, which accounts for 17% to 41%.
～In fact, the highest incidence of shoulder joint pathology is rotator cuff injury, accounting for 17% to 41%. This is followed by acromioclavicular impingement and shoulder instability. Shoulder impingement and glenoid labral injuries are often difficult to identify by non-specialized shoulder surgeons. ”Frozen shoulder”
or “frozen shoulder” is mainly characterized by shoulder pain, reduced active and passive mobility of the shoulder joint in all directions, and difficulty in lifting the shoulder joint, making it difficult to comb your hair, put on and take off your shirt, take a shower, and other simple tasks. The most simple tasks such as combing hair, putting on and taking off clothes, bathing, etc. become “difficult” problems. There is no significant abnormality on imaging except for a decrease in bone mass. The disease occurs in middle-aged and elderly people in their early 50s, with an incidence of about 2% to 5%, and is more common in women than in men. The symptoms of rotator cuff injury are mainly pain, which is aggravated by abduction and supination in the range of 60-120 degrees, and sleep disturbance when lying on the affected side. Rotator cuff injuries are also associated with weakness in supination and limited active range of motion. The main symptoms of impingement syndrome are pain around the shoulder, pain at night, inability to lift the shoulder, and inability to lift the hand over the head. Shoulder instability is defined as dislocation or subluxation of the humeral head caused by trauma or non-traumatic causes. Patients often experience shoulder pain, weakness, and inability to lift the shoulder. Shoulder surgery in China started late and there are many shortcomings and misconceptions about shoulder disorders, but the term “frozen shoulder” is widely accepted by the general public. In orthopedic or injury clinics, the majority of patients with unexplained shoulder pain are diagnosed as “frozen shoulder”. The main difference between rotator cuff tears and frozen shoulder is that in people with rotator cuff tears, the shoulder can be lifted up in the early stage, but it hurts when it is lifted upwards, but it does not hurt when it is lifted over. If you have frozen shoulder, you cannot lift your arm, and the more you lift it, the more it hurts. Ordinary people can use this difference to identify the difference first. During the treatment of frozen shoulder and later in the rehabilitation process, strengthening physical exercise is an effective way to prevent and treat frozen shoulder. The purpose is to strengthen the tissues around the shoulder joint to protect the shoulder joint and eliminate shoulder muscle fatigue, but this functional exercise is based on the premise that it does not aggravate the patient’s pain. One is some pulling of the shoulder joint. One is to rotate the shoulder joint externally, and pull the shoulder joint backwards with both hands, which is very good for the shoulder joint and generally has a preventive effect on frozen shoulder. Secondly, the two hands should be crossed and lifted up to the maximum extent. This is also very good for shoulder pulling. It is generally advocated that treatment and functional exercise should be carried out at the same time to avoid post-healing complications, with correct functional activities, and post-rehabilitation health care is vital to achieve the above aspects, and the patient’s recovery is also very effective. True frozen shoulder is a disease that can heal on its own. Generally speaking, it gets better on its own in about a year. You can take or apply anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain, and physical therapy and ice packs are better for pain relief and anti-inflammation. However, if the duration of the disease is particularly long, then you should consider the possibility that it is not frozen shoulder. It is necessary to go to an outpatient joint clinic for further examination.