Symptoms of periarthritis of the shoulder

Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
Updated on January 29, 2025
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Patients with periarthritis of the shoulder typically exhibit symptoms of pain around the shoulder joint, which may affect their ability to lift their arms normally. This can interfere with daily activities such as washing the face or combing hair, which are common clinical symptoms of periarthritis of the shoulder. Once periarthritis of the shoulder is diagnosed, it is necessary to actively treat it. Treatments can include using topical plasters that activate blood circulation and relieve stasis, and taking oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications to alleviate pain. In cases with significant pain points, localized injections can be administered, and combined with physiotherapy methods such as acupuncture, electrotherapy, and cupping. It is also important to actively engage in exercises like wall climbing to improve shoulder joint function. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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Early symptoms of periarthritis of the shoulder

The early symptoms of periarthritis of the shoulder are pain in the shoulder and limited movement of the shoulder joint, especially the action of raising the arm, which is clearly restricted. Therefore, for the treatment of this condition, it is encouraged that patients engage in functional exercises early on. If one fears the pain and dares not to move the shoulder joint, it will lead to stiffness of the joint and atrophy of the surrounding muscles. Generally speaking, periarthritis of the shoulder is a self-limiting disease with a typical duration of about one year. If you can raise your shoulder and perform normal activities within a year, then there will be no residual sequelae afterwards. However, if within a year, the shoulder joint becomes stiff and its movement becomes limited, then after a year, the symptoms of shoulder pain will significantly improve, but there will be some loss of range of motion in the joint. Therefore, for all patients with periarthritis of the shoulder, early functional exercise is encouraged to avoid symptoms such as joint effusion, joint stiffness, and muscle atrophy.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of Periarthritis of the Shoulder

Periarthritis of the shoulder refers to aseptic inflammation of the ligaments, joint capsules, and tendons around the shoulder joint due to chronic strain. This condition is characterized by localized pain, limited mobility, and typically rest pain. There is limited ability to perform movements such as abduction, elevation, and extension during active motion, and an increase in pain during passive movement. It is also necessary to rule out injuries to the rotator cuff or labrum to diagnose periarthritis of the shoulder.

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Written by Qiu Xiang Zhong
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of periarthritis of the shoulder

Periarthritis of the shoulder generally occurs in people over 40 years old, with the most common symptom being pain in the shoulder joint. Initially, there may be a soreness and pain in the shoulder, which is milder during the day and often worsens at night. The pain may intensify with changes in weather or after exposure to cold. In later stages, the pain may gradually spread around the entire shoulder joint and may involve the neck, scapular area, deltoid muscle, upper arm, or the lateral side of the forearm. Periarthritis not only causes shoulder pain, but also leads to restricted movement of the shoulder. This manifests as difficulties in simple actions that require raising the arms, such as combing hair, dressing, or scratching an itch. In advanced stages of periarthritis, there may also be muscle atrophy in the shoulder, particularly in the lateral deltoid muscle, which intensifies the movement disorders of the shoulder joint, resulting in difficulties in lifting the upper arm and extending it backward. Shoulder pain is not solely caused by periarthritis and should not be self-diagnosed. If shoulder pain occurs, it is advisable to seek medical treatment at a hospital.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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How to exercise for frozen shoulder

Periarthritis, also known as frozen shoulder in clinical terms, is generally caused by chronic strain leading to aseptic inflammation of tendons, ligaments, and joint capsules around the shoulder joint. This results in symptoms of pain and limited mobility, particularly pain at night, with both active and passive movements likely to be restricted. In such cases, besides rest and physiotherapy, and the use of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, it is also essential to engage in appropriate functional exercises for the shoulder joint to avoid with the goal of restoring its function. For instance, the shoulder joint should perform active bending, stretching, and abduction movements, as well as circumduction movements of the shoulder joint. These exercises aim to restore the function of the ligaments and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint.

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Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
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Shoulder periarthritis symptoms

In daily life, periarthritis of the shoulder often has the following symptoms and manifestations: The first is movement impairment. This is manifested as limited movement in various directions of the shoulder joint, including outward extension of the upper limbs, actions such as chest-expanding, taking off clothes, as well as significant difficulties in lifting and rotating. This can present as an inability to flexibly comb hair, wash face, and dress or undress. This is a key point in distinguishing frozen shoulder from other shoulder disorders. The second is pain. It manifests as pain in one shoulder joint without obvious trauma, which can be a dull pain or sharp, knife-like pain, often worsening at night and even causing awakening due to pain. The pain can radiate to the neck, back, forearm, and hand. The third is tenderness. Most patients with the condition widely experience tender points upon pressing around the affected joint. Muscle stiffness and atrophy may occur. The muscles around the shoulder, such as the deltoid and supraspinatus, can become stiff during the onset, and disuse atrophy may occur in the later stages.