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Serving Eastern Sussex County, Delaware & Surrounding Areas.

Medical Library Shoulder

Aging in Place Specialists logo featuring a house outline and an illustration of a person, emphasizing support for aging individuals in their homes.

Choose the body area

Massage therapy session focusing on neck and shoulder relief for improved mobility and quality of life in aging individuals.

Neck

Physical therapist assisting elderly patient with mobility exercises in a bright rehabilitation space.

Shoulder

Physical therapist assisting patient with mobility exercises, promoting physical therapy benefits for aging individuals, in a clinical setting.

Back

Hand using a laser therapy device on a patient's arm, demonstrating physical therapy treatment for mobility improvement.

Elbow

Elderly woman engaging in physical therapy with a healthcare professional, using a pink dumbbell to improve strength and mobility.

Wrist

Physical therapist assisting a woman during manual therapy session, focusing on mobility and rehabilitation for aging individuals.

Hip

Physical therapist using a laser therapy device on a patient's knee, demonstrating physical therapy treatment for improved mobility and pain relief.

Knee

Physical therapist assisting elderly man with leg stretching exercise in a bright therapy room, emphasizing mobility improvement for aging in place.

Leg

Person undergoing physical therapy exercise, using a stability ball for rehabilitation, with a knee brace visible, emphasizing mobility improvement for aging individuals.

Ankle

OVERVIEW

Adhesive Capsulitis

Illustration of Adhesive Capsulitis showing normal shoulder joint capsule compared to thickened joint capsule with adhesions and inflammation, relevant to frozen shoulder condition.

Adhesive Capsulitis (or a frozen shoulder) is a rare condition that causes the soft tissue layers, known as the joint capsule, to become damaged. The shoulder range of motion becomes restricted and painful. Although the cause of a frozen shoulder remains unknown, minor traumas, diabetes, hyperthyroidism and other conditions such as post-surgical patients or psychiatric patients may be responsible. It is described as having three stages: freezing, freezing, and thawing. The condition is self-limiting and will eventually disappear on its own. It can take up to two years for this condition to be fully recovered.

A home exercise program, patient education, stretching, joint mobilization and patient education can all help speed up recovery. It may take up to two years for some patients with frozen shoulders to fully recover.

GOALS

Possible Treatment Goals

  • Decrease Risk of Reoccurrence
  • Improve Function
  • Improve Muscle Strength and Power
  • Increase Oxygen to Tissues
  • Improve Proprioception
  • Improve Range of Motion
  • Improve Relaxation
  • Self-care of Symptoms