Sometimes, people overlook pains and aches as a common reaction to growing old. However, if you notice marked limitation in your range of movement, aches when lifting objects, and stiffness in your shoulder, you may be suffering from a frozen shoulder.
While a frozen shoulder may resolve on its own, it may take several years to do so. Hence, it is best to look into physical therapy for frozen shoulder in Philadelphia to ensure that you do not continue living in pain.
How Does Frozen Shoulder Occur?
Suffering from a frozen shoulder is difficult, but not knowing how it develops can often confuse you. Frozen shoulder can develop gradually and become a debilitating condition if left unchecked for too long.
To understand more about frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis, it is important to remember that the shoulder comprises three bines that form a bone and socket joint. This joint is surrounded by tissues that help hold the bones in place. A frozen shoulder occurs when the tissue capsule thickens and becomes tight, limiting the range of movement while also causing stiffness and pain.
Unfortunately, it is unclear how a frozen shoulder may develop, but it usually occurs in three stages that take several months. When you notice signs of a frozen shoulder, a local physical therapist in Philadelphia may be able to aid you with the recovery process.
Does Physical Therapy for Frozen Should Help?
If you have a frozen shoulder but are unsure whether to opt for physical therapy for frozen shoulder in Philadelphia, it may be useful to learn more about how it works and if it may help.
Most people who opt to see a local physical therapist in Philadelphia for a frozen shoulder tend to recover quickly and see immense progress. With the help of physical therapy, you may experience relief from pain symptoms as well as increased mobility.
What to Expect When Opting for Physical Therapy?
Overall, the goal of a physical therapist would be to help you restore your range of movement. Hence, your physical therapist will help you get back to your day-to-day activities in no time.
Before getting started with physical therapy exercises, your physical therapist will evaluate your present condition. As a frozen shoulder develops in three stages, it is essential to understand how far your condition has developed. Once they have an idea of which stage you are in, they can prescribe treatment accordingly.
How Physical Therapy Can Help You
After your physical therapist has evaluated your condition, they will draw up a treatment suited for your needs. Physical therapy shows marked improvement for those who are in the second stage of developing a frozen shoulder.
Stage 1: Pre-freezing and Stage 2: Freezing
Stage 1 lasts for about one to three months, and stage 2 lasts for about nine months. During the pre-freezing stage, it can often be difficult to identify your condition as a frozen shoulder. In stage 2, however, there is a rapid increase in pain and loss of movement.
During this stage, exercises and manual movement performed by a local physical therapist in Philadelphia may help. Paired with ice and heat treatment, a home exercise regime, and, in some cases, pain medications, you may be able to notice raid recovery.
Stage 3: Frozen
Lasting up to 14 months during the early part of this stage, you will have immense pain and minimal movement. But as you progress toward the fourth stage, the pain decreases, with the pain only afflicting you when you move your arms.
Treatment during this stage focuses n helping you return your range of motion. Stretching techniques, manual exercises, and strengthening movements prescribed by your physical therapist can help you relieve pain symptoms and get back your range of motion.
Stage 4: Thawing
Your frozen shoulder gradually heals during this stage, with the pain subsiding and your range of motion increasing day by day. During this stage, your physical therapist will focus on helping you go back to your daily activities to complete your usual tasks without any discomfort or pain.
In this stage, stretching techniques, manual therapy, and strengthening techniques can help you immensely and help you get back to your pain-free life.
It is hard to know how and when a frozen shoulder may develop, but with physical therapy, you may be able to recover much quicker and alleviate your pain symptoms. With the right treatment, you will be able to complete your daily activities without any pain.