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INTRODUCTION
Idiopathic adhesive capsulitis or Frozen
Shoulder in women has been considered an “Enigma” in
the medical literature. Webster’s dictionary defines an enigma as “one
that baffles the understanding”. The condition has not been well
understood and the methods of treatment varied and without predictable
outcomes. Traditionally, therapists have been challenged and frustrated by
slow progress, limited pain relief and poor functional outcomes. Since
the 1700’s women have been presenting to their doctors with stiff, painful
shoulders of unknown etiology. More often than not they have been
prescribed anti-depressants and sent home with the assurance that the
condition would eventually resolve, but told that it would take a number
of years! It’s time to solve the mystery of frozen shoulders in
women and answer an age old question in orthopaedics and women’s health.
Idiopathic atraumatic adhesive capsulitis in women is
marked by a painful, progressive, global loss of both active and passive
range of motion with the condition averaging 30 months duration
prior to resolution. Modern medicine can cure many cancers in a
shorter period of time. Women will continue to suffer unnecessarily
long with this painful condition unless we take a more proactive
and open minded approach toward timely intervention. As therapists
we are in an ideal position to assist these women, and we have a unique
opportunity to make a difference in the long term health and quality of
life for this patient population. It is a matter of education to share
the knowledge and the will to think beyond the
traditional and outdated medical and therapeutic approaches.
As therapists we also have the opportunity to
rapidly reduce and eliminate pain from this condition and
restore both active and passive range of motion
often in just 1-3 visits.
In fact,
provided with a better understanding of the etiology of adhesive
capsulitis in women, therapists can actually prevent many frozen shoulders
from ever developing. |
