Health Information

Neglecting warmth in youth leads to frozen shoulder in old age.

Release Date:

2023-02-02 15:52

Shoulder periarthritis is also commonly referred to as “frozen shoulder” because it frequently occurs in Middle-aged and older adults around the age of 50, with a higher prevalence in women than in men, often present with Shoulder pain, sensitivity to cold , accompanied by varying degrees of restricted mobility. Patients often wonder why, despite using the same exercises and heat therapy as others—and seeing those others recover—these treatments seem to have no effect on them. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes syndrome differentiation and individualized treatment, recognizing that each person’s onset of illness, living environment, and lifestyle habits are unique. Following onset, the clinical manifestations of the disease also vary, and the duration and severity of the illness, the presence or absence of comorbid conditions, and the individual’s overall physical condition are all closely interrelated.

 

 

I. Classification of Shoulder Periarthritis in Traditional Chinese Medicine

 

1. Wind-Cold-Damp Type

Shoulder pain Severe, intense shoulder pain with marked tenderness; the pain is exacerbated by wind-cold, presenting as mild discomfort accompanied by aversion to cold and wind, with symptoms lighter during the day and heavier at night. The tongue is pale, with a thin, white, greasy coating, and the pulse is slippery and taut.

 

2. Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Type

Shoulder pain, localized swelling, and nocturnal pain Dark tongue or ecchymoses on the tongue, white or pale yellow coating, and a wiry or fine, rough pulse.

 

3. Qi and Blood Deficiency Type

Shoulder joint pain, accompanied by general symptoms such as limb weakness and shortness of breath.

 

4. Liver-Kidney Deficiency Type

It commonly occurs in the elderly. Gradual worsening of shoulder pain and range of motion Dryness of both eyes, dizziness and tinnitus, and soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees. The tongue is red with a white coating, and the pulse is fine and weak.

 

II. Treatment Methods

 

Treatment is administered based on syndrome differentiation, with the following primary methods:

Massage and tendon-regulating techniques; tuina-based loosening and dispersing methods combined with warming, promoting circulation, and dispelling stagnation; blood-activating and stasis-resolving approaches; wind-dispersing and cold-dissipating strategies; kidney-tonifying and liver-nourishing regimens; tendon-relaxing and meridian-unblocking therapies; liver-and-kidney-tonifying methods paired with warming yang and dispelling cold; yin-nourishing and stasis-resolving techniques; as well as warming-channel and cold-dispelling methods—these can be applied individually or in various combinations.

 

III. Shoulder Joint Functional Exercises

 

Functional exercise is an indispensable step in the treatment of frozen shoulder and a key factor in preventing recurrence.

 

1. Neck-support holding method

Have the patient stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Cross the hands behind the neck and perform adduction–abduction–adduction movements. Perform ten repetitions each time.

 

 

2. Forward Bend with Raised Arms

Hold the affected limb in front of the abdomen. Use the healthy side to initiate the movement, slowly raising the affected limb while keeping the arm as straight as possible throughout the motion. Once the limb reaches the highest position, lower it slowly. Perform ten repetitions each time. (The “healthy side” refers to the unaffected side.)

 

 

3. Elbow-flexion and Arm-rotation Technique

The patient is in the standing position with feet shoulder-width apart. Both elbow joints are flexed. 90° Using the upper arm as the axis, perform adduction and abduction of the forearm. Perform ten repetitions each time.

 

 

4. The Upward Climbing Grid Method

Previous lifting and crawling method: The patient faces the wall, with feet shoulder-width apart and both feet positioned at a distance from the wall. 20 To 30 Centimeters. Flex the affected limb forward and raise it upward, slowly climbing the wall until discomfort becomes intolerable, then slowly lower it back down along the wall. At the highest point, record the position of the fingertip for reference the following day. Perform ten repetitions each time.

 

 

 

Lateral climbing grid method: Stand with the affected side facing the wall, feet shoulder-width apart, and lean sideways against the wall. 30 At the centimeter mark. Abduct and elevate the affected limb, using one hand to support the wall and slowly climb upward until discomfort becomes intolerable, then slowly lower it back down along the wall. At the highest point, record the position of the fingertip for reference the following day. Perform ten repetitions each time.

 

 

5. Back-Reach Palpation Technique

The patient is positioned in a standing posture with feet shoulder-width apart. The arms are allowed to hang naturally, and the healthy hand is used to grasp the affected wrist from behind, thereby flexing the elbow, extending the forearm, and internally rotating the affected limb to encourage it to reach as far as possible toward the scapular region on the healthy side. Perform ten repetitions each time.

 

 

6. Internal Adduction Shoulder Probe

The patient is positioned in a standing posture with feet shoulder-width apart. The affected arm is flexed at the elbow, and the unaffected hand supports the affected elbow to adduct the arm. The affected hand then reaches as far as possible toward the unaffected shoulder, gradually extending posteriorly to palpate the unaffected scapular region. Perform ten repetitions per session.

 

 

PingLe Guo’s Orthopedic Clinic reminds you: Perform the above exercises three times daily, executing each movement slowly and deliberately to achieve maximum range of motion.

Keywords:

Health Information,Shoulder Joint Functional Exercises,Frozen shoulder