| Postoperative shoulder stiffness is almost inevitable if | | | | part of the capsule more than the other side(s) with |
| a person has gone in for replacement of the shoulder | | | | tightening rates differing among the posterior, anterior |
| joint, or for surgery to repair instability of the rotator | | | | and inferior capsules. The shoulder ball would then get |
| cuff. The stiffness and pain are a result of oedema, | | | | pushed towards the bone on the upper side, causing |
| where the tissue surrounding the joint swells to the | | | | bursitis as a result of rotator cuff abrasion and |
| point where it acts like an adhesive that increases | | | | consequent inflammation. Although surgeons take |
| friction. | | | | great care to ensure that such situations are rare, post |
| Another common reason for shoulder stiffness after | | | | operative physiotherapy has to be precise and |
| surgery is caused by inflammation or capsulitis as a | | | | adequate to ensure that shoulder stiffness is minimised |
| result of scar formation and thickening inside the | | | | and eventually completely overcome. This is the |
| capsule that makes up the shoulder joint; the irritation | | | | reason that the patient has to strictly follow the |
| of the lining can cause severe pain. | | | | regimen of exercises that the physiotherapist |
| Stiffness of the shoulder can also be the result of | | | | recommends if he or she is to be completely free of |
| abnormal mechanics, especially if surgery has not | | | | this painful condition and lead a painless life after going |
| managed to perfectly align the humeral head or | | | | in for surgical repair or replacement of the shoulder |
| shoulder ball inside the capsule. This could squeeze one | | | | joint. |