Frozen Shoulder - 肩周炎
By Dr. Zhisong Chen, O.M.D., Ph.D., L.Ac.
Frozen shoulder, medically referred to as adhesive capsulitis, is an inflammation characterized as stiffness and chronic pain in shoulder joint. It typically occurs in people who are around 50 years, so it is also called “Shoulders of Fifties”. The clinical manifestations of frozen shoulder are shoulder pain. At the beginning stage, the pain is intermittent, worse at night. Gradually the pain becomes severe and constant. Climate change or fatigue can always aggravate the pain. Movement of the shoulder is severely restricted towards all directions, typically stretching, upholding, pronation, and supination. It is difficult to accomplish many daily activities, such as combing, wearing clothes, and washing face. Patients are especially sensitive to cold air and cool wind. Western medicine usually treats frozen shoulder by anti-inflammatory medications, physical/occupational therapy, injection of steroids into shoulder joint, and surgery.
Frozen shoulder is called “Shoulder attacked by wind” in Chinese medicine. It is usually caused by a weak body constitution, insufficiency of liver and kidney essence, deficiency of qi and blood, insufficient nourishment of tendon and bone, plus chronic fatigue, invasion of external wind and cold that disturb the flow of qi in the channels. These can affect the flow of qi and blood in the channels of the shoulder, with obstruction leading to pain. Gradually the tendons adhere and motion is restricted. So qi and blood insufficiency is the internal cause, evil wind, cold, and dampness invasion is the external cause. Chinese medicine has accumulated thousands of years of experience in treating frozen shoulder. The principle is to expel wind and scatter cold, to warm the meridians and smooth the collaterals, plus to nourish the kidney and the liver. Acupuncture points include Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (TE 14), Jianzhen (SI 9), Jianjing (GB 21), Hegu (LI 4), Fengchi (GB 20), etc.
Dr. Chen received extensive education in Chinese medicine. He employs acupuncture, herbal medicine, and massage to treat frozen shoulders. He also educates his patients how to properly perform exercise for rehabilitation. After comprehensive and professional treatment, patients generally have significant effects within a short period of time. welcome to see Dr. Chen's clinic at 8818 Tuckerman Ln, Potomac, MD, 20854. Tel: 301-979-9040. E-emial: info@chennmac.com
陈智松医师，北京中医药大学本科，中国中医科学院中西医结合硕士，新加坡国立大学医学院博士，美国国立卫生研究院博士后， 生命科学和国际免疫学杂志特邀审稿专家
肩周炎又称肩关节周围炎，是指以肩部长期固定疼痛，活动受限为特点的慢性炎症。本病多发于五十岁左右的中老年人，故俗称五十肩。临床表现为肩部疼痛，开始呈阵发性疼痛，慢性发作，昼轻夜重，以后疼痛逐渐加剧或钝痛，或刀割样痛，且呈持续性，气候变化或劳累后常使疼痛加重，可向颈项及上肢扩散，当肩部偶然受到碰撞或牵拉时，常可引起撕裂样剧痛。肩关节向各方向活动均可受限，以外展、上举、内旋外旋更为明显，一些动作，特别是梳头、穿衣、洗脸、叉腰等动作均难以完成，严重时肘关节功能也可受影响，屈肘时手不能摸到同侧肩部，尤其在手臂后伸时不能完成屈肘动作。患者肩部对冷气和凉风尤其敏感，肩关节周围有明显的压痛点，重者肩周围肌肉可发生萎缩。西医多采用口服消炎镇痛药和痛点局部封闭治疗。
中医称本病为“肩漏风”，病因为年老体衰，肝肾不足、气血虚损，筋骨失于濡养，加之长期劳累，又因肩部露卧受凉，寒凝筋膜而致。日久则筋脉粘连，不能活动。故 气血虚损，血不荣筋为内因，风寒湿邪侵袭为外因。中医对本病的治疗积累了几千年的经验，治疗以祛风散寒，温经通络为主，兼顾补益肝肾以达治本之功。针灸可选肩髃、肩髎、肩贞、肩井、合谷、风池等穴位。
陈智松博士传承中医精华，应用针灸、中药、按摩相互结合辩证治疗肩周炎，并根据具体情况辅导病人进行正确的功能康复锻炼。经过专业性的综合治疗，病人往往能在短期内取得显著的疗效。欢迎咨询和就诊陈智松博士全科中医针灸诊所。地址：8818 Tuckerman Ln, Potomac, MD, 20854。电话：301-979-9040。电邮：info@chennmac.com
