Simple stretching exercises for ELDERLY (Part 2)

Stretching to prevent or ease frozen shoulder and heel pain

Professional consultant／Hsu Chih-Chung, Physical Therapist Li-Kong Ortho Clinic, New Taipei City

Frequently asked question 2 : Frozen shoulder

People over 50 years of age are most susceptible to frozen shoulder with the likely causes overuse use of previous injury; of course, it sometimes occurs for an unknown reason.

The shoulder is a round joint and can move through 360 degrees in normal circumstances however, sufferers of frozen shoulder have the range of movement restricted by pain. The pain that can so great that women can’t undo the buttons at the back of their underwear or even brush their hair. If people who sleep on their side put pressure on the injured shoulder, when they get up they will feel numbness and pain, and they have a dull ache in their shoulder on cold and wet days.

Inner rotation stretch Inner rotation stretch Take hold of the ends of a towel or item of clothing with each hand, with left elbow bent, palm behind the head and right hand straight, with the towel in line with the spine; then, use the power of the left hand to pull the towel up, bringing the right hand up also; maintain the position for 30-60 seconds; once on each side is a set, repeat 5-10 times. Note: People who suffer from serious frozen shoulder may not be able to lift up their arm; of this is case do one sided stretches, with the hand ......Full Article