Frozen shoulder: What to do with frozen shoulder

It's a nightmare: you're just about to hang up the washing, put on your jacket or put your cell phone to your ear - and suddenly you feel a hellish pain and your shoulder won't cooperate. Women between 40 and 60 are particularly affected by this so-called "frozen shoulder", an inflammation of the joint capsule. It often strikes them after the onset of the menopause. Doctors suspect that frozen shoulder is hormonal. Other causes: one-sided strain, a thyroid disorder or metabolic disorder (diabetes).

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via Sabrina
08/24/2019, 08:00
Schultersteife, genannt Frozen Shoulder, ist ein Phänomen, das plötzlich kommt und wieder geht – nach Monaten. So beschleunigen Sie die Heilung.© adobestock
Frozen shoulder is a phenomenon that comes and goes suddenly - after months. How to speed up the healing process.

Three phases: inflammation, freezing, thawing

The process begins gradually: at first the shoulder is sensitive to pressure and hurts, e.g. when you turn over in bed. In the second phase, it becomes increasingly stiff and immobile because the thickened joint capsule shrinks and becomes matted. It becomes impossible to spread the arm sideways or turn outwards. In the third phase, the shoulder "thaws" again. But this can take six to 24 months.

Cortisone injections and physiotherapy

To speed up the healing process, you can have your doctor inject cortisone (or prescribe cortisone tablets) and take an anti-inflammatory painkiller, preferably one that takes effect after just 15 to 20 minutes. Equally important: physiotherapy (manual treatment and special exercises) to keep the joint capsule mobile or to mobilize it again and prevent incorrect loading. In the third phase, the focus is on strengthening the joint and coordination exercises.

Last resort: arthroscopy

If none of this helps, a minimally invasive arthroscopy can help. This allows adhesions to be removed and the shrunken joint capsule to be split and widened. Physiotherapy should also be carried out afterwards.

Yoga exercises for the shoulder

1. kneel down and sit on your bottom. Take your shoulders back, fold your hands behind your bottom and stretch your arms. Repeat ten times
2. half bow: kneel down, rest your hands on the floor. Raise your right leg and try to grasp your toes with your left hand. Hold the tension briefly, then release. Ten times. Then switch sides and repeat the exercise.


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