Search This Site

Subscribe to my Frozen Shoulder tips newsletter!

I'll share the techniques that helped me overcome my shoulder pain!
I will never sell, rent, or trade your email for any reason! I adhere to the NO SPAM Policy!

I Have Severe Shoulder Pain - What Can Be Causing It?

I came across this article recently and noted that it did a pretty good job of giving examples of what can cause shoulder pain in individuals. A strong and healthy shoulder can prevent most of the maladies mentioned in the article. After reading the article, come back to this out this link which is an excellent resource regarding easy exercises for rotator cuff injury:

The Ultimate Strong And Healthy Shoulder Program

What Structures Cause Pain In The Shoulder? - by Pete Harris

But how do you tell what is causing your shoulder pain? This article addresses some common ways that the various pain generators of the shoulder are diagnosed from the perspective of an experienced Physical Therapist.

There are several structures in the shoulder that can cause pain if they are injured. It is common to think that shoulder pain is always from a rotator cuff injury. This is not the case and determining what structure is the primary source of your pain is important to know how to treat the problem effectively. This article addresses some common ways that the various pain generators fo the shoulder are diagnosed from the perspective of an experienced Physical Therapist.

Three common pain generators of the shoulder are the rotator cuff muscles
and tendons, the bursa and the shoulder capsule. The purpose of the rotator cuff muscles and tendons is to move our shoulder in a rotating fashion (hence their name) and to help up elevate our arms over our head. The purpose of the bursa or bursal sac is to protect the muscle from scraping on the edge of the bone. So the bursa sits between the muscle and the bone and acts like a cushion. Without it the rotator cuff muscles would repeatedly scrape on the edge of the bone and become easily irritated. The shoulder capsule offers added stability to the shoulder joint. Any one of these structures can become a pain generator if they are inflamed or injured. Often times they will be inflamed in conjunction with each other.

It can sometimes be tricky to diagnose the exact pain generator because the symptoms that are experienced by people with these pathologies are typically very similar to each other. More often than not these pathologies will cause symptoms of pain, weakness, and loss of motion. The pain is typically felt in the shoulder region and is often felt in the upper arm above the elbow. People with shoulder pain will commonly feel an increase in pain when they are trying to raise their arm overhead or out to the side. So if these pathologies are so similar in nature how can we tell them apart?

WellFree Web Content, in physical therapy there are some simple tests that can be performed that will help distinguish between the different pathologies described above. I will describe them here briefly.

1. Rotator cuff tendonitis: if one or more of the rotator cuff muscles is inflamed this is termed tendonitis. This is diagnosed by simple manual muscle testing where the physical therapist will resist specific motions of the shoulder that the rotator cuff is responsible for. If the patient experiences pain during a manual muscle test this is indicative of a tendonitis.

2. Bursitis: this can pose a challenge for the therapist to diagnose but if they are well trained they can more easily identify this as a problem. The tests start with manual muscle testing as described above. A painful manual muscle test should be followed by a Pull Test. This is a specific test that is specific to the bursa. If it is positive then it is likely that the person has a bursitis of the shoulder.

3. Adhesive capsulitis: this is also commonly known as frozen shoulder. The diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis is made with specific testing called passive motions. Limited range of motion of the shoulder is a common finding in any of the pathologies discussed in this article. Adhesive capsulitis presents with a very specific limitation in motion that will likely differ from the limited motion seen in tendonitis and bursitis.

If the symptoms of these pathologies can be so similar then why do we need to be so specific in the diagnosis? The reason is that although symptoms are similar the treatments for these conditions can vary slightly from each other. Treatment that I apply for a shoulder bursitis I may not apply for a shoulder tendonitis or adhesive capsulitis. When a specific diagnosis is made the Physical Therapist can design a specific treatment plan that will help alleviate shoulder pain. The more thorough the treatment plan the more likely the outcomes will be positive.

Peter Harris is a licensed Physical Therapist with 17 years experience in the profession treating patients with shoulder pathology. Learn how I have helped hundreds of patients with shoulder problems overcome their pain and get their life back! http://www.squidoo.com/shoulderpain

Easy Exercises For Rotator Cuff Injury

If you have injured your shoulder and it has been determined by a physician to be a rotator cuff strain or possibly even a small tear, there are some easy exercises for rotator cuff injury patients. To begin with, roll up a medium sized bath towel and place it under the affected arm and bend the elbow to ninety degrees. Next, hold one end of a long straight stick (a broomstick works well) with the uninvolved hand and place the opposite end in the affected side’s hand. Now gently push your involved hand (the one attached to the hurt shoulder :) ) out to the side while maintaining the 90 degree angle. You should feel an achy discomfort in the front and rear of the shoulder, but not sharp pain. Try to hold this stretch for 5 or so seconds and then relax and return to the starting position. This is also a good exercise for frozen shoulder as well.

The next exercise is the pendulum arm swing. If you have a small rotator cuff tear injury then this exercise is best done every 1-2 hours to keep the joint capsule and soft tissue pliable and from tightening up. Simply bend over at the waist about 60-70 degrees in order to let the hurt arm hand down. The good arm should be braced on a chair or table simultaneously. Begin rotating your torso in order to get your arm swinging in circles - first clockwise, then counter clockwise. Picture a watch on a string. This is how your arm should be relaxed and swinging throughout this rotator cuff exercise.

Among the most important and effective exercise for rotator cuff injury is the “scapular pinch”. With this exercise we are trying to strengthen the shoulder blade muscles. They are extremely important because they provide the base of stability for the whole shoulder complex. To perform the exercise simply pinch the tips of your shoulder blades together and hold for 6-8 seconds. Repeat this for 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

These are just a few effective exercises for rotator cuff injury. There are many more such exercises that are necessary to gain full range of motion and strength. Read the Ultimate Rotator Cuff Training Guide to discover the most effective exercises for pain relief and function.

Frozen Shoulder Manipulation - Is This For Me?

Regarding the particular treatment plans available for a stiff arm, the frozen shoulder manipulation is usually the one that is definitely dreaded the most by persons with this condition. As a clinician I’m often asked if this can remedy the discomfort, for which in turn I instantly answer “It all depends”. The actual general opinion amid a large amount of experts is that aside from surgical treatment, the MAU really should be one of the final considerations.

To start with, even though it is really a closed procedure (non-surgical), a MAU is traumatic to the shoulder’s joint capsule in addition to soft tissue structures close to the shoulder complex. The theory is that the specialist is intending to free adhesions which have formed about the capsule, thereby creating more motion within the shoulder complex. What the results are in some instances though may be definite tearing of one’s capsule itself. ROM is undoubtedly renewed, yet for the reason that body starts to repair the area, it sets down more scar tissue which can potentially trigger more loss of motion and anguish. This means the sufferer has to experience extra physiotherapy in order to avoid extra loss in ROM.

When it comes time to undergo this type of procedure the person must also take into account additional circumstances which unfortunately stop a MUA from being the top treatment. For instance, if ever the affected individual carries a background of brittle bones, there’s an elevated possibility of sustaining a break as the upper extremity is ranged through many different ranges of motion. Moreover, due to sudden higher speed stretching, there exists a smaller threat of sustaining brachial plexus injury, which is essentially an injury to the nerves which traverse the shoulder. Even rotator cuff tears have already been reported following a procedure just like this. A seasoned orthopedic physician focusing on in disorders of the upper extremity can certainly decide a person’s risk regarding the above.

When the manipulation is done physical therapy should be initiated asap, as soon as day one after the manipulation in an effort to keep any ROM that has been gained. Ideally the individual must go to rehabilitation each day for the 1st 7-day period to manage swelling and protect against even further loss of range.

As you can see, a frozen shoulder manipulation is a critical thought and has to be performed only after conservative procedures fail. Adhesive capsulitis treatment methods usually requires tolerance, patience, and dedication to accomplish entire and productive ROM and functionality.

The right frozen shoulder exercises can literally mean the difference between your frozen shoulder lasting years versus a relatively short period of time. visit Stop-My-Shoulder-Pain.Com for more information.

Rotator Cuff Tear Pain - Begin Your Therapy Today

Starting rotator cuff injury treatment is one of the biggest things that you can do if you experience pain in your shoulder. You could be suffering from an injury that effects hundreds of people if you have pain in your upper arm or your shoulder area. Rotator cuff injury therapy may help you reduce your shoulder pain.

Shoulder injuries seem to be more and more common in today’s society. Why? Our society is getting older and, believe it or not, more active.

The pain associated with shoulder injuries can be caused by a number of factors. Tendonitis and bursitis are just a couple of examples of the causes of shoulder pain. Rotator cuff injury treatment can help ease your shoulder pain if you are suffering from a specific injury or if you are suffer from pain that has been with you for years.

No matter what the cause of your injury, or if you have been diagnosed with a specific condition, one thing is clear. You must eliminate the inflammation in and around you shoulder to reduce your symptoms of pain. This inflammation of tissues in your shoulder is the source of all of your discomfort.

Here is my quick tip for beginning your rotator cuff injury treatment: Cold Compressive Therapy. Cold compressive therapy is simply the most important rotator cuff injury treatment that you can implement to reduce or even eliminate your pain. This treatment will reduce the swelling and discomfort in your shoulder and potentially improve your range of motion.

You will see the best results if you apply this therapy shortly after you are active or after your exercise routine. I know, I know, you don’t need any more hassles in your life. But I promise you that a little ice will go a long way.

Yes, a little ice treatment can go a long way, but what is something else that you can do. The cause of your pain is the inflammation of tissues in your shoulder, right? That brings me to another very important step that you can take to reduce your pain and discomfort. Have you ever heard of or are you familiar with over the counter anti-inflammatory medication. The single most important over the counter medication that you can take is ibuprofen. First, let me be clear in this next statement. Before you take any medication at all, you must seek the advice of your doctor.

Only your doctor knows how any medication will affect your body. There you have it, I have given you fair warning. Okay, having said all of that, ibuprofen will reduce the inflammation in your shoulder and rotator cuff and greatly reduce your pain. I have used other medications for this type of pain, and ibuprofen seems to work the best for me. Again, check with your doctor, as he may be able to recommend the best medication for you.

Grab practical knowledge about lose 10 pounds per week - study the web page. The time has come when concise info is really only one click away, use this opportunity.

What Causes And How To Treat Winter Dry Skin?.

Dry skin is a very common skin problem and is often worse during the winter when environmental humidity is low (i.e., “winter itch”). It can occur at all ages and in people with or without other skin problems. This newsletter discusses the causes of dry skin and how to treat and prevent this problem. We hope you find it useful.

What does dry skin look like?

Everyone is familiar to some degree with the appearance of dry skin. The normally fine lines in the skin become more visible, the skin feels rough and appears dull and flaky. In more advanced cases, fish net-like cracks resembling the fine fracture lines of cracked porcelain can occur. Dry skin occurs most commonly on the arms and legs, but can also affect the trunk of the body. Dermatologists often call dry skin “xerosis” or “asteatosis”.

Problems associated with dry skin.

Dry skin very commonly produces itching, which can be severe and interfere with sleep and other daily activities. Repeated rubbing and scratching can produce areas of thickened, rough skin (lichenification). Dry, thickened skin can crack, especially in areas subject to chronic trauma (e.g., hands and feet), causing painful cracks in the skin (fissures). Dry skin and scratching may result in a dermatitis when the skin becomes red (inflamed) in addition to dry and scaly. Round, scaly, itchy, red patches scattered over the legs, arms and trunk (nummular eczema) may also appear. The appearance of yellow crusts or pus in these areas indicates that a bacterial infection is developing. This would require specific antibiotic therapy from your dermatologist or family physician or drugs from an online pharmacy no prescription needed.

If your skin is very dry, or if you have an associated red dermatitis, it is a good idea to seek the advice of your dermatologist or family physician. Severe dry skin is a feature of certain genetic diseases such as atopic dermatitis and ichthyosis (fish scale-like skin). In addition, people with hormone imbalances such as underactivity of the thyroid gland can also experience severe skin dryness (there are other changes in the body that accompany dry skin in this setting that helps doctors recognize this problem). On occasion red, dry skin rashes can be confused with other skin problems such as a ringworm infection or allergic contact dermatitis (i.e., a poison ivy-like skin rash), which would need different forms of treatment.

What causes dry skin?

Healthy skin can be pictured as a multi-layer cake covered by a single sheet of clear plastic food wrap to keep it fresh. The plastic food wrap prevents the frosting and underlying layers of the cake from drying out by preventing loss (evaporation) of the water from the cake into the air. It is the moisture in the cake that gives it its freshness. The outermost layer of the skin, which acts like the plastic food wrap and is about the same thickness, is called the stratum corneum. (This is the layer that peels off after a sunburn). The stratum corneum consists of dead skin cells embedded in a mixture of natural oils (lipids) that are made by underlying living skin cells. These natural skin oils keep the water inside our body from escaping into the air and also keep irritating substances and germs from entering the body. Both the skin oils and the dead skin cells hold a certain amount of water in the stratum corneum and it is this stratum corneum water that helps keep the skin soft, pliable and smooth.

Dry skin results when there is not enough water in the stratum corneum for it to function properly. One way this can happen is when protective oils in the stratum corneum are lost and the water that is normally present in the skin is allowed to escape. Too much soapy water, exposure to harsh chemicals, the normal aging process and certain types of skin diseases are some of the causes of decreased amounts of protective skin oils. As the stratum corneum dries out it shrinks and, as it shrinks, small cracks can occur. This exposes the underlying living cells to irritating substances and germs in the environment.

Treatment of dry skin.

An important aspect of treatment is to identify and tackle any factors that may be contributing to the dry skin. It is natural to think that applying water alone to dry skin would help control the problem. However, water alone (especially hot water) can actually worsen the problem of dry skin by removing the normal, protective skin oils. Hot, soapy water depletes the natural skin oils to the greatest degree. Anyone who has tried to wash a skillet covered with bacon grease in cold soapy water knows how effective heat is in softening up oils and fats so that they can be washed away. However, water followed by the application of oil such as a moisturizer (also known as an emollient or lubricant) is of great benefit for dry skin. The oil in the moisturizer helps trap and seal water in the stratum corneum and makes the skin softer, smoother and less likely to become dry, cracked and itchy.

A mainstay of management is attention to proper bathing techniques and liberal use of the most effective moisturizers. You should take a short bath or shower (no more than 10 minutes) only once in a 24 hour period. For adults, showers are generally better than baths. While longer baths or showers, especially in hot water, can be quite relaxing, they will also increase the loss of natural oils from the skin and worsen skin dryness. The bath or shower should be in warm rather than hot water. Soap should be used minimally and only when and where needed (for example, under the arms, the groin and genitals, the feet, and the face). Milder, less drying soaps include Dove, Neutrogena Dry Skin Formula (unscented), Aveeno Cleansing Bar for Dry Skin, Purpose, Basis, and Oil of Olay Sensitive Skin Soap. Cetaphil is a liquid cleanser that works as a gentle and effective soap substitute for some people. It is especially helpful for cleaning the face and hands.

After bathing or showering, quickly and gently pat the skin partially dry with a towel (do not rub!). Within three minutes of getting out of the water apply a moisturizer (see discussion of moisturizers below) to seal the water in the skin before it can evaporate. Bath oil, if selected as a moisturizer, can be directly rubbed into the skin after showering or bathing, but should not be added to bath water since this can make the tub dangerously slippery. Moisturizers should be reapplied liberally during the day and evening when possible especially to those areas prone to dryness (hands, arms, legs) and when itchy.

Treat any red dermatitis (eczematous) patches with a topical cortisone (steroid) cream or ointment for a 5 to 15 day course. Over-the-counter and prescription medication strength cortisone creams and ointments can occasionally be helpful, but prescription strength products are often required to calm down this type of dermatitis. Make sure you understand where the cortisone cream or ointment is to be applied (only on the red patches unless instructed otherwise) and how often you should apply it (no more than twice daily). When using both a cortisone product and a moisturizer, always use the cortisone first and the moisturizer second.

Be careful about using other over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and itch-suppressing creams or lotions. Many of these products contain chemicals that can irritate or cause allergic reactions in dry, dermatitic skin. A good general rule is if anything that you apply to your skin causes more burning and itching than you started with, you should stop using it until you can talk with your doctor about it. Anti-itch products containing pramoxine (e.g., Prax, Pramosone) or menthol and camphor (e.g., Sarna) are generally safe to use. However, these products are not treating the cause of skin dryness, they are only temporarily treating the itching that accompanies skin dryness.

Any way that you can increase the humidity level in the air of your home and workplaces would be advisable. If not already present, you should consider adding a humidifier to the central heating system of your home. If you use a portable humidifier, make sure it is used in your bedroom at night.

Find out pragmatic tips about the topic of weight loss - make sure to read the site. The time has come when proper information is truly only one click of your mouse, use this opportunity.

Frozen Shoulder Treatment - Grab The Tennis Ball

Frozen shoulder treatment comes in many forms. Some good, some bad, some ridiculous. However, anyone with a tight, painful shoulder will tell you that a good massage is just about the best thing for temporary pain relief. With a frozen shoulder, the muscles surrounding the shoulder often spasm, as well as become inflamed. This as well as the shrunken/tight inner joint capsule causes extreme pain when trying to lift or move your arm in any direction.

What to do when no one is around???

Grab a tennis ball…

The firm but not so hard tennis ball provides and excellent way to work out local muscle spasms and helps to gain back some of that precious motion lost during the frozen shoulder process. The most common technique is to place the ball along side your deltoid or humerus (your upper arm bone). Then simply lean into the wall and slide up and down along the wall. This will be painful at first, however you can control how much pressure you apply. Try to gradually work up to a firm pressure and work this for about 5 minutes. The increased blood flow along the lateral deltoid will act as a pain suppressor temporarily and actually help you to get some range of motion back.

Remember this is only temporary and should only be used as an adjunct to your prescribed exercise or frozen shoulder treatment regimen.

Exercises For A Frozen Shoulder

Editorial Review: The following article speaks about gentle exercises for frozen shoulder. The author’s point about beginning with less strenuous exercise is a valid point as all too often patients take on the “more is better” mentality when first beginning to stretch their painful shoulder. An important point to add is that these exercises are best done in frequent short bursts throughout the day rather than trying to do them only once or twice a day. The soft tissue in the shoulder joint will stiffen rapidly if not exercised (gently!) multiple times a day.

frozen-shoulder-treatment-click

Gentle Exercises For Frozen Shoulder
By Bob Downe

Deciding on exercises for frozen shoulder can be a lot easier if you visualize your shoulder as a necklace chain that has been knotted up. Let’s say that this chain is very tiny and delicate. You probably would not dream of picking that chain up and yanking on it to untangle it.

If you did, you might damage the chain, or even break it. You would probably be very gentle with it and lightly tug on each piece of the knot until it began to loosen up. Only after it was loose could you begin to untangle it.

Now, we all know that a frozen shoulder does not have knots in it; but, the same principle applies to freeing up frozen shoulder that does to freeing up a knot in a necklace. You need to choose exercises for frozen shoulder that are only easy, small movements that will just begin to tug on the tendons in the shoulder.

Keep up these small movements until you are able to, without pain, freely move your arms in small rotations. Then, and only then, should you progress to more strenuously exercise frozen shoulder.

Yoga is an exercise program that should be considered when searching for exercises for frozen shoulder. The good thing about yoga is that it involves easy, slow stretching movements that require you to focus on your body. This focus will help you to pay attention to your body and any pain that may come from the stretching.

Good exercises for frozen shoulder are shoulder circles. Starting out, you should only be doing small circles. Because of the pain, this will probably be just about all you can handle. Do your shoulder circles for just a few minutes a day on each shoulder and a few weeks should be all it takes to start the process of freeing up the shoulder.

Another good exercise is arm circles. To reduce the amount of pain associated with this exercise, it will be wise for you to lie on your opposite side. Now, take your hand and place it on your shoulder so that your elbow extends into the air. Rotate your elbow in very small circles. Do this for several minutes each day and soon you will start to see your shoulder begin to loosen, making it easier to make larger and larger circles. You can stick with circles, or you can try other shapes with your elbow, just as long as you are rotating the shoulder in the process.

If you want to learn more about Rotator Cuff or more specifically exercises for frozen shoulder then check out http://www.rotatorcuffreview.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Downe
http://EzineArticles.com/?Gentle-Exercises-For-Frozen-Shoulder&id=1490361
frozen-shoulder-treatment-click1

Exercises For Frozen Shoulder - Can You Stretch Too Much?

When I instruct a patient on exercises for frozen shoulder syndrome I begin with stretching. This lesson always winds up with a lot of questions. Can I stretch too much? What If I feel pain when I stretch? Can I overdo with stretching exercises? What if I have a rotator cuff tear?  I’ll attempt to answer these questions with some brief answers:

1) If done properly and with the right intensity there is no such thing as “too much stretching” with a frozen shoulder. Proper technique includes using good posture and form with any frozen shoulder exercise. The intensity of each stretch should be mild to medium but not to the point of sharp pain. It’s best to perform stretching in short bursts multiple times throughout the day rather than just two or three times a day. Too much time in between stretches allows the joint capsule to stiffen up and makes each exercise more uncomfortable.

2) There are two types of pain that I educate my patients on - a) damaging pain and b) non-damaging pain. Damaging pain is felt as sharp or searing type pain, or pain that lasts more than 30 minutes after performing any exercise to the shoulder. This is a sign that additional trauma is being added to the shoulder which means more recovery time and limitation of results. Non-damaging pain is felt as “achy”, “stretchy” type pain and simply means that tissues are being lengthened and exercised properly. This type of pain is short lived, most often within moments of stopping the stretch or exercise.

3) If you are experiencing any symptoms of pain that last or pain in other areas besides the area you are trying to stretch then you are possibly overdoing your exercise. Try backing off the intensity or repositioning your shoulder and performing the exercise as instructed. You can benefit greatly from pictures or videos from a program targeted specifically for frozen shoulder treatment.

There are many exercises for frozen shoulder that may be too difficult for you to perform at first, particularly if you have severely restricted motion or are in an acutely inflammed state. I recommend to begin any exercise with proper warm-up which may include moist heat, shoulder pendulums, or pedaling and “arm bicycle”. Never try to stretch a “cold” shoulder as this may only damage tissues futher and limit your progress.

Rotator Cuff Tear - Do I Have One?

The fear of the ever-dreaded rotator cuff tear is enough to send one into complete denial. I know this because I’ve had patients who’ve had shoulder pain for years and did nothing about it just because they were “afraid of the rehab”. They’ve heard the typical horror stories about their Uncle Larry’s “rotary cup” surgery taking a year to heal, all the while having to endure months of grueling torture by Stan the “physical terrorist”.

Afraid of the rehab??? Most of the time what was a mild shoulder injury to begin with has now turned into a problem that WILL take surgery and months of therapy to correct. While it is out of the scope of my practice act to diagnose a specific injury, I still attempt to answer a patient’s questions about what a rotator cuff tear feels and acts like, if nothing more than to give them some direction or peace of mind about their shoulder pain.

Rotator cuff tears are usually preceded by some traumatic event, whether it is a lifting action, throwing motion, or some type of event that involves a twist of the shoulder. However there are incidents where a simple “reaching out” can cause a tear. This usually is because the person had a “type III” or “hooked” acromium (sharp point at the end of the clavicle bone) which caused gradual wearing away of the cuff tendon. In either case the person typically describes a sudden sharp pain in the shoulder followed by a burning sensation. The days ahead are followed by extreme shoulder pain and weakness when attempting to lift the arm above shoulder height or possibly just reaching out for an object.

A simple test for a more severe tear is called the “drop arm test”.  The examiner lifts both of the patient’s arms out to their side and instructs them to keep them from dropping. A positive test is when patient is unable to keep the involved arm from dropping down and is typically accompanied by shrugging the same shoulder toward the ear in attempts to keep it by their side.

Smaller tears are more difficult to assess, but can be picked up by a trained examiner. The clinician decides there might be a tear through a combination of the mechanism of injury (was there an event likely to cause a tear), and assessing the strength of the cuff muscle in isolation through specific tests. If there are positive signs then the patient is sent for further tests which may involve a diagnostic injection, or possibly injecting a radiographic dye into the rotator cuff and then examining it under flouroscopy to see if any of the injected medium leaks out.

If a tear is discovered it is crucial to get treatment as soon as possible to avoid further complications and a stiff and painful shoulder requiring frozen shoulder treatment. Very small tears may be treated with cortisone followed by a course of rotator cuff physical therapy. Larger tears will likely need surgical repair.

Frozen Shoulder Treatment - What Are My Options?

Frozen shoulder treatment options do and should depend on several factors. First of all you need to know what stage of a frozen shoulder you are in. Early stages of  this condition, characterized by mostly pain and some stiffness, are best treated with aggressive active and passive range of motions exercise, taking care to avoid impingement syndrome. Even the most well meaning practitioners can cause more damage and pain if they are not experienced in the proper execution of range of motion exercises. Early stages also respond better to anti-inflammatories, provided the treating physician feels this is in order. Middle stages of frozen shoulder syndrome, which involve increased stiffness and loss of motion, respond well to joint mobilization by a trained clinician. Later stages, where motion is starting to return and the pain is less, should include strengthening exercises. This is due to the loss of muscle strength from months of decreased use and mobility.

Now obviously physical therapy may not be for everyone, particularly those who have a low pain threshold. These individuals may opt for more passive treatments involving various modalities such as heat, ice, injections, manipulation, or possibly surgery. Thermal modalities such as moist heat and ice only provide short term relief and are considered “coping treatment” as the patient “waits out” there symptoms — which may never occur or may occur at a much slower pace. Injections are more or less masking the symptoms with anti-inflammatory medication and do not get to the root of the condition, which is loss of motion and function. Manipulation is a last resort option (other than capsular debridement) which can lead to significant shoulder trauma and possibility of humerus fractures. Surgical debridement is an invasive treatment which carries with it the risk of infection.

All of the above frozen shoulder treatment options should be researched by the patient so they can decide the on the one that best suits them. Obviously physical therapy is the most preferred treatment as it addresses pain, loss of function, and loss of strength alltogether. If PT is the chosen course of treatment, the patient should make sure they choose a therapist with experience in this area, or use a program designed by a licensed clinician with a specialty in treatments of the upper extremity.