Technically called adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder is a common and fairly long lasting condition which reduces the range of movement in the shoulder and which can be extremely painful. There is good news though, osteopathy can help improve mobility and reduce pain, getting you back to normal more quickly.
What is frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder occurs when the capsule or ‘bag’ that encapsulates the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and tight. This restricts shoulder movement and causes a lot of pain when trying to lift the arm. It commonly affects women between 40 & 60 but can occur at nearly any age. It can be linked to other conditions such as diabetes, thyroid issues or can be triggered after a period of inactivity such as bed rest or a fracture or sling use causing immobilisation.
The symptoms can commonly last for 18 months – 2 years in total, making is difficult to carry out normal activities and is usually divided into three phases. These are sometimes referred to as:
- Freezing… the initial period of time where the shoulder gets painful and mobility is started to be affected
- Frozen… pain and stiffness are both present
- Thawing… gradual improvement in movement and less pain
Frozen shoulder can sometimes be confused with other shoulder conditions such as rotator cuff problems, impingement syndrome, bursitis or even arthritis so it is important for us to diagnose your shoulder pain properly.
How can Osteopathy help?
Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy that focuses on the entire body. We use a combination of different techniques such as soft tissue massage, stretching, joint mobilisation and lifestyle advice.
For frozen shoulder, we first assess the shoulders and spine to make sure that it is a true ‘adhesive capsulitis’ rather than it being a different cause for your shoulder pain and stiffness. We do that through taking a full history and carrying out a thorough physical assessment. We can then use techniques to help with:
- Pain relief: Gentle manual techniques help to reduce muscle tension and improve blood supply, all of which can help to reduce inflammation.
- Improve mobility: joint stretching and other osteopathic techniques are used to improve range of movement in the shoulder.
- Maintenance: We give tailored exercises to help maintain improvement in between treatments and speed up your recovery.
Frozen shoulder can be a slow and frustrating condition to recover from but with the right support, it doesn’t have to limit your life. If you’re struggling with shoulder pain, consulting an osteopath could be your first step towards getting back to normal.
👉 Book now to make an appointment with me in Wincanton