This is a condition that causes pain and inflammation within a joint. It can affect any joint in the body but most commonly in the neck, back, hands, hips and knees. Over time the cartilage (a strong flexible tissue that covers the ends of bones to protect and reduce friction) starts to become eroded and in severe cases so much so that the two bones that make up a joint start to rub against each other directly.
Symptoms can include; pain, swelling, stiffness, weakness and reduced mobility. The main causes include; overuse of a joint over many years, as a consequence of a joint injury or increased pressure placed on the joint due to obesity. This can be managed very effectively with the support of a Physiotherapist. We can offer advice on pain management and pacing techniques, as well as providing manual therapy to reduce pain and stiffness alongside exercise therapy to improve strength and mobility improving your quality of life.
If you have this condition the shoulder will likely feel stiff, sore and you will have a limited amount of movement (normally lifting arm above your head in front of you and rotational movements). Sudden movements are normally painful which you may find you tend to avoid and normal activities such as putting a top on or undoing your bra strap (for women) may be difficult if not impossible.
It can take several months to recover fully from this, so it is vital to get support from a professional to aid in your recovery. The treatment we offer would initially consist of pain management advice along with manual therapy and exercise therapy to increase the available movement in your shoulder. As your movement increases strengthening exercises would be introduced to regain any loss of strength during the period of immobility.