NorthEast Spine and Sports Medicine_Frozen Shoulder

Physical Therapy Can Help Frozen Shoulders

the affected shoulder. He or she will teach you how to relieve pain with stretching techniques and strengthen - ing exercises, most of which you’ll be able to complete at home to speed up the recovery progress. At the moment there isn’t very much we can do to prevent the development of frozen shoul - der, however, the sooner you contact our office for an evaluation, the quicker we can address your pain symptoms and create your treat - ment plan! Contact NorthEast Spine & Sports Medicine today! If you have been experiencing recurrent or chronic shoulder pain, it is important to con- sult with a physical therapist as soon as pos - sible to find out if your problem is a frozen shoulder. Physical therapy is a safe and natu - ral treatment option that can successfully help patients of all ages recover from their shoulder injuries. There’s no reason you need to risk the harm - ful effects of over-the-counter medication or spend a ton of money on an expensive surgery to gain relief from shoulder pain. Call North- East Spine & Sports Medicine today to learn more about the benefits of physical therapy for shoulder pain, and begin your journey toward living a pain-free life!

What Is Frozen Shoulder? Frozen shoulder, or “adhesive capsulitis” is a condition caused by inactivity that occurs af - ter injury or alongside another shoulder prob - lem. When scar tissue forms after a period of physical inactivity, the shoulder can become stiff or inflamed. Most people struggling with frozen shoulders complain of pain, discomfort when moving or using the affected joint, or even a total loss of movement in that shoulder. Exactly what causes frozen shoulder remains somewhat of a mystery condition to many doctors and physical therapists, but a few pos - sible causes are as follows: • Results from a surgery or injury. •

How Is Frozen Shoulder Diagnosed? There are four stages in the development of frozen shoulders: prefreezing, freezing, frozen, and thawing. It’s pretty common for patients to see our physical therapists in the freezing stage after they’ve already been experiencing pain for a little over half a year, or 9 months. At this point they’re already in a lot of pain and pretty used to not being able to move their shoulder the way they’d like to! At your consultation, one of our physical thera - pists here at NorthEast Spine & Sports Medi - cine will assess your condition, pinpoint the exact source of your pain, take a look at your medical history, and evaluate your strength and mobility levels. He or she will also consider any other condi - tions that could be contributing to your pain, such as diabetes, an autoimmune disorder, or a thyroid disorder. From there a comprehen - sive treatment plan will be created just for you. It will most likely consist of targeted stretches, exercises, and best practices for you to regain strength and decrease stiffness and pain. What Kind of Physical Therapy Treatment Will Help? Physical therapy for frozen shoulders focus - es primarily on pain relief, using modalities, manual therapy, exercises, and at-home treat - ments. Your physical therapist’s ultimate goal is to restore mobility and range of motion to

Underlying conditions such as bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, a rotator cuff tear, or any other condition causing a person to cease shoulder movement. Immobilization of the arm, such as in a sling, after surgery or fracture.

Overall, having a limited range of motion can cause you to develop a frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulders can also be the result of remaining bedridden, unable to get up and move around for a long time. Most physical therapists recommend that patients with frozen shoulders rest often in between physical therapy appointments to avoid developing scar tissue in the shoulder. On the chance that scar tissue does develop, the muscles surrounding the shoulder may eventually freeze up as well.

Creamy Cucumber Chopped Salad

Workout Safely This Season!

INGREDIENTS • ½ cup mayonnaise • ½ cup crumbled feta cheese • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives, plus more for garnish • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • ¼ teaspoon salt • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper • 1 large English cucumber, diced • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered • 1 bunch radishes, diced • ½ medium red onion, finely diced

Adjust your body temperature. Hop into a cold shower before your workout. Studies show that a pre-exercise cool down improves performance in the heat — probably because it lowers your heart rate as well as core and skin temperatures. Get the dirt. Try to walk, run, or cycle on dirt or gravel paths, since asphalt and concrete tend to radiate heat and reflect the sun’s rays, making you feel hotter. Live near water? Take advantage of the breeze on even steamy days; if possible, start out with the wind at your back, so when you’re finishing you’ll be running into a headwind, which feels cooler. Refuel with fruit. They’re more than 80 percent water, so fruits such as grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew are a tasty way to replenish fluids and boost your energy post-workout. Keep them frozen or grind them into a smoothie for a refreshing treat!

DIRECTIONS Whisk mayonnaise, feta, chives, dill, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add cucumber, tomatoes, radishes and onion and toss to coat. Garnish with more chives and dill, if desired.

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