The shoulder joints and muscles are one of the most sophisticated muscle complexes of the human body and contain a few of the strongest muscles.
The shoulder is a ball and socket joint, meaning the upper arm bone is plugged into a shallow socket and is held together by a group of muscles and tendons. Injuries to any of the many tendons and muscles are excruciating, and the recovery time is significantly longer than other injuries.
Two of the most common injuries to the shoulders are frozen shoulder and rotator cuff tears. In this article, we understand frozen shoulder vs rotator cuff injuries and how they present different symptoms and require different treatment plans!
Frozen Shoulder
A frozen shoulder is usually a degenerative injury that occurs over time due to repeated use or constant immobilisation of the shoulder joint and muscles after an injury or due to other underlying conditions like diabetes.
This Condition occurs due to the thickening of the capsule of connective tissues in the shoulder joint, restricting most of movement and causing excruciating pain.
Rotator Cuff Injury
A rotator cuff injury occurs when any of the muscles or tissues holding the upper arm in the socket is torn due to an injury. The tear in the muscles, tendons or tissues causes a lot of pain and discomfort to the patients.
Difference Between Frozen Shoulder & Rotator Cuff Injury
Frozen Shoulder – This Condition is caused by an thickening of the capsule of connective tissues in the shoulder joint, restricting most of movement and causing excruciating pain.
Another cause for the condition might stem from underlying issues like diabetes and other cardiovascular-related ailments.
The recovery time for a frozen shoulder is long and might take several months to years in extreme cases.
A few frozen shoulder symptoms include extreme pain and a highly restricted range of motion.
The doctors at Epione advise patients to explore a range of treatment options like PRP ,Hydro Dilation, physical exercises and more!
Rotator Cuff Injury – Rotator cuff injury occurs when there is a tear in any of the muscles, tendons or tissues that stabilise and hold the upper arm in the socket. The leading causes of these injuries include excessive straining of the arm and sports injuries.
The recovery time lasts between a few weeks to months, during which the patients suffer from limited shoulder mobility and pain during movements.
Experts at Epione advise patients to rest while recovering from the injury and undergo PRP injection treatments for faster and more effective recovery!
Frozen Shoulder Treatments
HYDRODILATATION OF GLENO HUMERAL JOINT
Considered to be one of the most effective frozen shoulder treatments, HD or Hydrodilation Of Gleno Humeral Joint is a minimal invasive procedure where expert doctors with the help of x-ray guide a needle to the joint capsule.
The patients are then given local anesthesia or saline to stretch the joint capsule for instant and long-term pain relief.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections – This shoulder pain treatment can help accelerate the healing process and help patients manage their pain.
Exercises, Hot & cold pads or other conservative management
Hot & Cold Pads – Applying hot and cold pads is an effective frozen shoulder treatment and can provide patients with much-needed relief from pain and inflammation!
Rotator Cuff Injury Treatment
Platelet-rich plasma Injections – PRP treatment aids in repairing the injured tissues and muscles, helping in the recovery process while simultaneously strengthening the shoulder muscles, tendons and tissues for a faster recovery time!
Rest – The best rotator cuff injury treatment is for the patients to get adequate rest to help recover.
Physical Therapy – Doctors advise patients to slowly start exercises when the injury begins to heal, helping the muscles gain strength and accelerate recovery.
We hope this article has helped you understand the key differences, symptoms and treatment plans for frozen shoulders and rotator cuff injuries. For more details on frozen shoulder vs rotator cuff injuriesand a consultation with Epione’s team of expert doctors who specialise in providing advanced treatments, click here!
