Frozen Shoulder Syndrome: Find out how to identify and treat this problem

Popularly known as “frozen shoulder syndrome,” adhesive capsulitis is the development of joint stiffness, which affects the shoulder’s loss of motion. Despite being a physical illness, due to the effects on a patient’s routine, research indicates that the condition has shown progression in emotional health.

According to data from a German study published in the journal Psychiatric Research, patients with a locked shoulder are at a higher risk of suffering from mental health problems. The study included 29,258 people with adhesive capsulitis and another 29,258 people without the problem, and the incidence of depression was 17.5% in the first group and 8.7% in the second.

What is adhesive capsulitis?

According to physiotherapist Walkyria Fernandes, adhesive capsulitis consists of “an inflammation of the joint capsule of the shoulder, which is completely adherent and causes limitation of mobility, hence the popular name of frozen shoulder. It is a difficult, long, very painful treatment, mostly at night, which interferes with the patient’s sleep. All of which ends up causing emotional damage.”

Diagnosis

Imaging and clinical tests, such as MRI, are needed to diagnose adhesive capsulitis. “It is extremely important that the patient does not ignore the pain or mask it with self-medication. It is necessary to seek a doctor or physiotherapist so that the treatment begins as soon as possible and correctly,” says Walkyria Fernandes.

Stages of adhesive capsulitis

Adhesive capsulitis has three stages: the first is the pain stage and the onset of loss of mobility. The second is the inflammatory phase, with significant loss of mobility, and the “frozen shoulder” phase. The last is “thawing”, when the inflammatory process subsides and the joint capsule is released.

Influence of the condition on mental health

According to Walkyria Fernandes, there are shoulder pains that are treated much faster. Adhesive capsulitis has three stages, which are unavoidable; the patient becomes discouraged, stops doing the things he likes and, therefore, is more likely to develop depression.

“There are few shoulder pathologies that generate such a big problem, unless it is a serious fracture to be operated on or a tumor. Frozen shoulder syndrome is idiopathic, meaning there is no specific cause. When it appears, it is more tedious to treat due to the duration of the treatment, which can greatly affect the patient’s emotions,” explains the specialist.

Treatment for inflammation

To treat the problem, the physical therapist explains that you need to be patient, as each case will inevitably require time to recover. “Treatment can be done with medicines, prescribed by the doctor, to combat the pain, and with physiotherapy, which will help reduce pain, reduce inflammation, increase mobility and, in the last phase, regain mobility, work on rebalancing and muscle strengthening,” she says.

Again according to Walkyria Fernandes, the treatment period depends on each case. “The treatment time will vary depending on the stage at which the patient arrives for physiotherapy. Adhesive capsulitis can last an average of 15 months. If the patient arrives at the onset of pain, he will have an average of one year of treatment. It is common, when physiotherapy begins, getting worse and entering the freezing phase, there is no way to prevent it, it is part of the phases of the disease”, explains the physiotherapist.

By Consuelo de Magalhães