Adhesive Capsulitis
Frozen Shoulder which is also known as Adhesive Capsulitis can affect any of us at any time and it can become a very painful and debilitating condition with few treatment options and many myths surrounding this painful shoulder condition. It should not be confused with Impingement Syndrome which is another painful but similar shoulder condition.
What is Impingement Syndrome?
This is described as a shoulder that is subject to catching type pain in certain shoulder positions but the shoulder range of movement remains good. However, there are many authorities who will describe this as a pre-freezing stage of frozen shoulder so early diagnosis and treatment might well be considered in order to potentially avoid developing adhesive capsulitis.
Frozen Shoulder Facts
It is more popular in females and affects approximately 2 – 5 % of the non-diabetic population. Unfortunately those people with diabetes are ten times more likely to suffer from a painful frozen shoulder joint. I will define frozen shoulder syndrome in the same way as NAT and after Grubbs as:
‘A soft tissue capsular lesion accompanied by painful and restricted active and passive motion at the glenohumeral joint’ – (Grubbs 1993). Essentially people suffering from frozen shoulder will complain of:
- Stiffness
- Painful reduced range of motion
- Pain to lay on the shoulder
- Sharp catching type pains which may include the upper arm
- A constant dull ache or burning feeling in the shoulder
How long does it last?
Untreated, Frozen Shoulder may last over 2 years and even then there is no guarantee it will fully return to normal.
How long does it last?
There are a few options for treatment which may include pain relieving drugs from your GP, Steroid injections and even surgery in very extreme cases.
However, Osteopathic treatment may also be very helpful at both:
- reducing the pain
- reducing the recovery time
What is The Niel-Asher Technique (NAT)?
The Niel-Asher Technique, NAT, is a specific technique developed by a leading Osteopath in the shoulder field. It is a hands-on treatment designed specifically to treat frozen shoulder and has been in use since 1977 and in 2003 NAT was the subject of clinical trials at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
The results of the trial were outstanding and an abstract was published in the British Journal of Rheumatology Volume 42, Supplement 1, 2003, Article 418 BHPR p.146.
In conclusion The Niel-Asher Technique™ demonstrated a significant improvement in active range of movement, and strength and power over and above traditional physical therapy treatment in an outpatient hospital setting.
Patients treated with the Niel-Asher Technique™ also showed the largest clinical improvement in shoulder pain and disability (SPADI).
