Loss of strength | Symptoms and pain of a frozen shoulder

Loss of strength

Since the shoulder joint is muscularly secured, the muscles of the rotator cuff play a decisive role in the strength and stability of the shoulder joint. Patients suffering from a frozen shoulder often adopt a relieving posture and perform compensatory movements to compensate for the limited movement. This leads to muscular imbalance and to atrophy and shortening of the shoulder muscles on the affected side. Therefore, a loss of strength can be observed.

Pain during simple strengthening exercises

Of course, even simple strengthening exercises can cause pain in the shoulder area. This is usually due to the fact that too few stretching exercises are performed and the shortened muscles of the rotator cuff must adapt to the new mobility in the shoulder joint. It is therefore important to create a healthy balance between stretching exercises and strengthening exercises.

The use of fascial rolls should also be part of the training program, as they make the connective tissue more mobile. Strengthening exercises should always involve bilateral training of the shoulder muscles to avoid muscular imbalance. Slight to moderate pain is often found in the rehabilitation phase.

However, this is not a reason to stop the strengthening exercises, but a sign that the correct, not yet adapted structures are being trained. The right dose and intensity of the corresponding exercises is important. A physiotherapist, sports therapist or qualified fitness trainer can help you to accompany the rehabilitation process. Additional information can be found in these articles:

  • Fascia Roll
  • Blackroll
  • Stretching exercises
  • Exercises at a Frozen Shoulder

Painkillers

Drugs that can be used in the pain treatment of a frozen shoulder are usually non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as In addition to their analgesic (pain-relieving) effect, these painkillers also have an anti-inflammatory (anti-inflammatory) effect. They can be applied in tablet form or as local application in the form of ointments. Local application as a gel or ointment is indicated in individual cases if there is a pre-existing disease of the liver, kidneys or stomach, since ibuprofen in high doses in particular is a burden on the liver.

Acetylsalicylic acid in tablet form is also not indicated in patients with gastric disease. As a rule, the administration of pantoprazole is prescribed as a prophylactic measure to protect the stomach. For severe pain, a frozen shoulder can also be treated with low-potency opiates: Very potent opiates such as morphine, oxycodone, buprenorphine or hydromorphone are used in rare, very severe forms of the clinical picture.

The injection of cortisone can also be used to achieve an analgesic effect. However, cortisone can only be used for a short period of time, as it damages connective tissue structures when applied over a longer period of time.

  • Diclofenac
  • Ibuprofen
  • Acetylsalicylic acid
  • Tramadol
  • Tilidin
  • Codeine