How is periarthritis of the shoulder treated?

Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Periarthritis of the shoulder is mainly caused by degenerative changes in the soft tissues around the shoulder joint, chronic damage due to long-term overexertion, poor posture, and other factors, leading to symptoms such as shoulder pain and limited mobility. For the treatment of periarthritis of the shoulder, it is important to first rest and keep warm to prevent cold exposure. When symptoms of pain and limited mobility occur, symptomatic treatment with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medication, blood-activating and stasis-dissolving traditional Chinese medicine can be used to improve symptoms. Additionally, treatments such as hot compresses, physical therapy, massage, pain point blockades, and functional exercises for the shoulder joint can be employed. These methods play an active role in improving symptoms and delaying the progression of the disease. In cases where conservative treatment is ineffective or functional impairment occurs, surgical treatment can also be considered.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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How to treat periarthritis of the shoulder?

Periarthritis of the shoulder refers to a sterile inflammation caused by chronic strain on the muscles, ligaments, or joint capsule around the shoulder joint, characterized by localized pain and limited mobility of the shoulder joint. For those experiencing periarthritis of the shoulder, it is advised to undergo physical therapy and rest, keep the area warm, avoid cold exposure, and engage in appropriate functional exercises to prevent joint stiffness due to the pain and limited mobility in the shoulder joint. Thus, with systematic treatment, this type of sterile inflammation in the shoulder joint can generally be alleviated.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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How to treat periarthritis of the shoulder?

Periarthritis of the shoulder generally refers to the aseptic inflammation around the shoulder joint, which is common in middle-aged and elderly women. It is caused by chronic strain of the shoulder joint, affecting the surrounding muscles, tendons, joint capsules, and ligaments. First, it is important to rest and you can promote blood circulation around the area with appropriate physiotherapy, such as hot compresses and acupuncture, to facilitate the repair of the damaged area. At the same time, appropriate exercise should be carried out to avoid stiffness of the joint that can occur with prolonged immobility or passive restraint.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of Periarthritis of Shoulder

Periarthritis of the shoulder refers to the aseptic inflammation of the joint capsule, ligaments, and tendons around the shoulder joint due to chronic strain. This results in localized pain and restricted mobility. Additionally, the shoulder joint is affected during active actions such as lifting, abducting, and extending. During passive lifting activities, the pain may worsen. Also, pain is notably more severe at rest during the night. In the morning, there can be joint stiffness, which may ease after some movement, reducing both stiffness and pain.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How to cure periarthritis of the shoulder using the arm-swinging method?

In the treatment of periarthritis of the shoulder, there is a method called "arm-swinging". The main technique of arm-swinging involves swinging the shoulder joint inward, outward, forward, and backward, forming a circle with the shoulder joint. This circle is actually two circles: one from the front to the back, and another from the back to the front. The arm-swinging method should be very effective for treating periarthritis of the shoulder, but the following issues need to be noted: First, it is crucial to exclude any rotator cuff injuries, especially tears in the supraspinatus or infraspinatus muscles. If tears in the supraspinatus or infraspinatus muscles occur, the arm-swinging method is not recommended due to its "zipper effect." This refers to a small initial tear that could further enlarge through improper exercise, eventually becoming a large tear. Thus, the first point is to rule out rotator cuff injuries. Second, when performing the arm-swinging method, one should not rush and should progress gradually. Initially, the range may be very small or the movement may not be possible to perform, but with consistent and persistent practice, the range of motion will gradually increase, making arm-swinging easier. However, rushing may lead to muscle tears around the shoulder joint or tear injuries to the joint capsule. Third, although the arm-swinging method can have a beneficial effect in treating periarthritis of the shoulder, starting the exercise can be very painful. Therefore, it may be necessary to use other methods initially, such as taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs orally, or undergoing massage or physiotherapy, to relax the muscles and ligaments around the shoulder joint. This can reduce pain during the arm-swinging exercises and enhance effectiveness.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Is periarthritis of the shoulder serious?

Periarthritis of the shoulder refers to the aseptic inflammation of soft tissues such as tendons, ligaments, and joint capsules around the shoulder joint due to chronic strain, which results in symptoms like pain and limited mobility of the shoulder joint. It is commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly women. Therefore, the severity of shoulder arthritis should be analyzed based on specific symptoms and the extent of functional impact. It is recommended to visit the orthopedics department of a reputable hospital for consultation. Treatment should be chosen based on the pain level and the extent of joint impact, in order to alleviate pain and restore function.