What is the Best Treatment for Frozen Shoulder
When you search for a definition of Frozen shoulder, you come across confusing information, so I thought I should make your life easier and solve the puzzle before you loose yourself into the rabbit hole.
True Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis is a presentation caused by the thickening of the shoulder joint capsule characterised by shoulder pain, stiffness and a reduction in range of motion of the shoulder joint. This is by the book.
Now, and here is the confusion, as extracted from the nhs.uk website “Frozen shoulder is where your shoulder is painful and stiff for months, sometimes years”. Well, that is vague and hopeless since it also advises painkillers and exercises as the only form of treatment. It also mentions that Frozen shoulder normally resolves itself after 3 years, which is true but, are people supposed to patiently wait 3 years? Or is there something else that can be done?
There is people sitting at home right now thinking they can’t do anything about their shoulder pain and people that think that they have true frozen shoulder when they don’t and I want to change that.
This latest definition means that my client with an old rotator cuff injury has a diagnosis of frozen shoulder, my aunt with a jammed subscapularis also has frozen shoulder, and so on.
The majority of people with shoulder pain, stiffness and a limited range of motion of the shoulder joint don’t have true adhesive capsulitis or Frozen shoulder but instead another presentation with similar symptoms and a much better short term prognosis.
Regardless of whether it is true Frozen shoulder or not, there is more that can be done treatment wise other than painkillers, and although the prognosis is different in different scenarios and true Frozen shoulder has normally a longer healing process, hands on treatment is hugely beneficial in every scenario and can also reduce the severity of the symptoms in true adhesive capsulitis cases.
The most common cause for a stiff and painful shoulder is Trigger points and Restrictions of the muscles and structures that wrap around the shoulder joint, imbalances and restrictions in the myofascial lines that affect the neutral position of the joint and its correct functioning as well as a rotator cuff injury or chronic thickening of the supraspinatus tendon.
When you search for a definition of Frozen shoulder, you come across confusing information, so I thought I should make your life easier and solve the puzzle before you loose yourself into the rabbit hole.
True Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis is a presentation caused by the thickening of the shoulder joint capsule characterised by shoulder pain, stiffness and a reduction in range of motion of the shoulder joint. This is by the book.
Now, and here is the confusion, as extracted from the nhs.uk website “Frozen shoulder is where your shoulder is painful and stiff for months, sometimes years”. Well, that is vague and hopeless since it also advises painkillers and exercises as the only form of treatment. It also mentions that Frozen shoulder normally resolves itself in 3 years, which is true but, are people supposed to patiently wait 3 years? Or is there something else that can be done?
There is people sitting at home right now thinking they can’t do anything about their shoulder pain and people that think that they have true Frozen shoulder and they don’t and I want to change that.
This latest definition means that my client with an old rotator cuff injury has a diagnosis of frozen shoulder, my aunt with a jammed subscapularis also has frozen shoulder, and so on.
The majority of people with shoulder pain, stiffness and a limited range of motion of the shoulder joint don’t have true adhesive capsulitis or Frozen shoulder but instead another presentation with similar symptoms and a much better short term prognosis.
Regardless of whether it is true Frozen shoulder or not, there is more that can be done treatment wise other than painkillers, and although the prognosis is different in different scenarios and true Frozen shoulder has normally a longer healing process, hands on treatment is hugely beneficial in every scenario and can also reduce the severity of the symptoms in true adhesive capsulitis cases.
The most common cause for a stiff and painful shoulder is Trigger points and Restrictions of the muscles and structures that wrap around the shoulder joint, imbalances and restrictions in the myofascial lines that affect the neutral position of the joint and its correct functioning as well as a rotator cuff injury or chronic thickening of the supraspinatus tendon.
Best treatment for Frozen Shoulder
The best treatment for Frozen shoulder, true Frozen shoulder or not, is releasing these muscles and structures that wrap around the shoulder joint as well as releasing and addressing imbalances in the myofascial lines that affect the correct functioning of the shoulder joint.
Through our experience and the experience of many other hands-on therapists the most effective way of doing this is by using a combination of trigger point therapy, myofascial release, advanced stretching and corrective strengthening exercises that address the myofascial lines.
Not only releasing the muscles that wrap around the shoulder but also releasing and correcting imbalances in the myofascial lines that run through the whole body and that are contributing to the presentation.
The results obtained when the whole system is addressed are long-lasting and more effective. Some people respond within 1-4 sessions and some others with more complex presentations take a longer time but everyone will benefit from a treatment of these characteristics.
Best Treatment for Frozen Shoulder
The best treatment for Frozen shoulder, true Frozen shoulder or not, is releasing these muscles and structures that wrap around the shoulder joint as well as releasing and addressing imbalances in the myofascial lines that affect the correct functioning of the shoulder joint.
Through our experience and the experience of many other hands-on therapists the most effective way of doing this is by using a combination of trigger point therapy, myofascial release, advanced stretching and corrective strengthening exercises.
Not only releasing the muscles that wrap around the shoulder but also releasing and correcting imbalances in the myofascial lines that run through the whole body and that are contributing to the presentation.
The results obtained when the whole system is addressed are long-lasting and more effective. Some people respond within 1-4 sessions and some others with more complex presentations take a longer time but everyone will benefit from a treatment of these characteristics.