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- $Unique_ID{BRK01645}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{What Does a "Frozen Shoulder" Mean?}
- $Subject{shoulder frozen Musculoskeletal System Connective Tissue Tissues
- shoulders joint stiffen freeze arthritis tendinitis osteoporosis bones bone
- stiff shoulder stiffens freezes stiffening}
- $Volume{M-17}
- $Log{
- Contributing Factors to Osteoporosis*0005701.scf
- Bones and Muscles of the Shoulder*0015001.scf
- Bones and Ligaments of the Shoulder*0015002.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- What Does a "Frozen Shoulder" Mean?
-
-
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-
- QUESTION: As I was moving my shoulder about before starting a golf game with
- a friend, he noted that I might have a "frozen shoulder". What does this mean
- and where does it come from?
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: You've heard the phrase "use it or lose it"? That is what a frozen
- shoulder is all about. Any joint can stiffen or freeze up if it is not used
- for long periods of time. A frozen shoulder sometimes occurs after a
- persistent shoulder problem, either arthritis, tendinitis, or trauma to the
- joint. It has also been known to occur after a heart attack when the patient
- has been bedridden for a time. Essentially, any long period of immobility of
- the shoulder joint can lead to calcification in the soft tissues, a narrowing
- of the joint space, and/or osteoporosis of the bones. In some cases, the
- patient will slowly get back the function of the stiffened shoulder without
- treatment as the stiffness diminishes with time. In other cases,
- corticosteroid drugs will reduce the inflammation so that an exercise program
- can be started. To prevent a frozen shoulder, most physicians will prescribe
- exercises as part of the treatment for shoulder pain. Your golf game is an
- excellent "cure" for you.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-