Elderly Woman Recovers from Shoulder Injury to Pitch; Doctors Advocate Diverse Treatments to Regain Mobility

(Central News Agency, Taipei, April 21, Reporter Chen Chieh-ling) Mama Zheng, over 70 years old this year, recently stood on the pitcher's mound at Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium to serve as the opening pitch guest. Without saying, no one would have known that in the past, due to severe shoulder joint damage, she struggled even with basic arm lifting. Through doctors advocating diversified treatments, she has regained her mobility.

Mama Zheng previously worked in a hospital's laundry and sewing department. Due to long working hours every day and the need for repetitive arm lifting and fabric handling, her shoulder joint was overused. During that period, the thought of work made her fearful, and she couldn't even sleep well. She recalled that initially, it was just mild discomfort, which later developed into night pain and difficulty lifting her arm.

Despite attempting conservative treatments such as massage, acupuncture, and rehabilitation for half a year, her symptoms did not improve and even continued to worsen. It wasn't until further examination that severe shoulder joint damage was discovered. Mama Zheng's work type was typical labor-intensive work with high shoulder joint usage. Her shoulder muscles had been torn for a long time and were difficult to repair, eventually leading to artificial shoulder joint replacement surgery, which yielded excellent recovery results.

Mama Zheng recently shared through a press release that after the surgery, she actively underwent rehabilitation according to medical advice, even enrolling in community table tennis classes, gradually rediscovering her interest in sports, and finally embarking on a wonderful retired life. She was even invited to throw the opening pitch for the Fubon Guardians and Uni-President Lions game, practicing pitching with her granddaughter, hoping to show her vitality to the public and encourage people with shoulder pain who fear surgery to seek medical attention early.

Research indicates that about 60% of seniors over 70 have shoulder joint degeneration or injury. Su Wei-jen, President of the Taiwan Shoulder and Elbow Society, stated that the shoulder joint has the largest range of motion in the human body and is responsible for most upper limb movements. From dressing, eating, to daily activities, it is closely related. Long-term labor and repetitive arm lifting can be key factors in shoulder joint damage.

Chiu Chih-hao, Director of Sports Medicine Orthopedics at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital's Orthopedics Department, pointed out that Mama Zheng's work type was typical labor-intensive work with high shoulder joint usage. Currently, there are diverse treatment options for shoulder joints. Clinically, conservative treatments such as muscle strength rehabilitation, oral medication, or injection therapy are often adopted first. However, when tendons are torn or severely degenerated and cannot be repaired, artificial shoulder joint replacement can be further considered.

Su Wei-jen said that clinically, many seniors still endure pain or mistake shoulder pain for the common 'frozen shoulder,' thus delaying the timing of medical treatment. He urged people not to neglect shoulder joint discomfort and to seek medical attention as soon as possible. With early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, patients still have the opportunity to improve pain, regain mobility, and restore their quality of life and autonomy of movement.

Su Wei-jen stated that reverse total shoulder arthroplasty used to be a self-funded item, but it was included in health insurance coverage starting in 2021. It can be used after a doctor's evaluation and approval, significantly reducing the financial burden. He recommended that patients with shoulder joint problems discuss suitable treatment plans with professional orthopedic surgeons. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150421

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