Frozen Shoulder Syndrome is a condition in which the shoulder becomes inflamed, stiff, and chronically painful. Also called "adhesive capsulitis", over a period of time one's shoulder mobility may become so restricted that the arm can only be lifted about half-way up from the side of the body. Even small tasks can be painful or impossible to perform. Many people will not be able to work without pain, especially if their job requires arms to be raised.
Frozen shoulder occurs in about 2% of the general population. It most commonly affects people between the ages of 40 and 60, and occurs in women more often than men.
We understand how frustrating this condition can be, for both patients and their doctor/therapist. Most current treatment options recognize that it may take from 6 months to 3 years for the pain to subside and mobility to return.
Physical examination will clearly show loss of movement of the shoulder joint...
But there's another place that needs to be examined, that may not have been checked if you're still suffering!
Identifying problems in this area may help you to be pain-free and fully mobile again - faster!
We find that in many cases, the actual problem - the underlying cause - is located NOT at the shoulder joint, but in the muscles & joints that control the scapula, or shoulder blade.
You see, the shoulder joint itself only has mobility of about 90 degrees, or when the arm is straight out to the side of the body. After that, the shoulder blade should move and rotate outward to allow completion of the movement - that lets the arm can go all the way up. It is this second part of the movement that malfunctions, blocking movement and causing pain in the shoulder joint.
In the photo to the left, the blue outline is the shoulder blade in neutral position. The red outline shows the proper position of the shoulder blade when the arm is raised.
In the photo to the right, you can see "normal" movement of the shoulder blade as the arm raises up. When the shoulder blade becomes 'stuck', the full movement is blocked, and the shoulder joint itself pays the price with pain & inflammation.
To fix this underlying cause, we will examine the muscles, joints, and nerves of the neck & upper back. Weakness of the muscles & nerves that attach to the shoulder blade prevent it from continuing the full movement. At Dallas Spinal Care, we can tell you if this is your hidden problem with a non-invasive, painless exam that takes just minutes of your time. We can then set up a gentle, comfortable chiropractic treatment plan to relieve the pain, restore your arm mobility, and help you to work and sleep WITHOUT PAIN!
Why wait to find out if we can help you get better again? Why lose another day's movement or another night's sleep?
Call us today to set up a No Obligation appointment! We would really love to be a part of your recovery!
214-669-0623