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Periarthritis of Shoulder (frozen shoulder)

Key Diagnostic Points:

1. Pain in the shoulder which may be aching, dull, or stabbing in character. In the case of a sudden occurrence, the pain may be severe with the upper arm and the elbow involved.
2. There is atrophy of the muscles in the shoulder with more than two sensitive tender points. For instance, under the acromian or in the anterior part of the shoulder.
3. Both active and passive movements of the shoulder joint are limited, especially abduction, external rotation and elevation.
4. It's often seen in those at the age of 50 or so which is called "shoulders of fifties". It's mostly due to chronic strain of the shoulder. It's a retrograde and inflammatory disease of the shoulder joint capsule and the soft tissues around it.

Differential Diagnosis:

Stagnation of Qi and blood in the shoulder.

Treatment Principle:

Removing Qi and blood stasis, relieve rigidity of muscles, activating the collaterals and stop pain.

Point and Technique Prescription:

Local Points: L.I. 15, SJ 14, L.I. 14, SI 9
L.I. 4 Yuan source point. It assists to send Qi though the channels in the shoulder.
SJ 5 San Jiao is for Qi diseases. This point also helps to move the Qi in the shoulder.
SI 3 Shu-Stream for painful joints and sensations of heaviness.
ST 38 threaded thought to UB 57

The patient is encouraged not to be afraid of pain, but to do active functional exercise on the shoulder joints. he should, under the supervision of a doctor, perform activities of abduction, external rotation, extension and raising of the shoulder joint. The range of the movement should be extended gradually. The exercise can be aided by pulling a pulley, or climbing something. above so as to extend the range of movement of the shoulder joint. The patient must be told that the exercise should not be given up because of the pain that it creates.

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