Frozen Shoulder Treatment and Exercise Blog

With all of the treatments out there for frozen shoulder, sometimes I get asked about massage and whether it is a good treatment for frozen shoulder sufferers. The answer to this question is a resounding “yes.” While the patient still needs to incorporate other treatment protocols into their program, massage is an excellent tool to help eliminate frozen shoulder. In fact, any program that does not have a soft-tissue component to it, is lacking in my opinion.

Massage techniques, when done correctly, help to work on soft-tissue restrictions that have developed in and around the shoulder. There are many different massage techniques that can and will help loosen up the soft-tissue limitations, increase range of motion, eliminate pain and bring back normal function to the shoulder. Combining good soft-tissue work with strengthening, range of motion exercises, and a good stretching program is the key to long term and fast success with frozen shoulder.

Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissue are all part of the soft-tissue that surrounds a joint. When someone is suffering from frozen shoulder, some and many times all of this soft-tissue becomes tight, forming contractures, spasms, knots and other restrictions that limit range of motion, cause pain and decrease function. Working on these areas with targeted massage techniques is a sure way to speed up the recovery of frozen shoulder. It is important to always incorporate some kind of soft tissue work into the frozen shoulder program to address these issues. Massage is a great way to do this. It is important however, to make sure the massage therapist understands frozen shoulder and what to work on and why. Many people have learned how to perform their own soft-tissue work in the comfort of their own home pretty easily with the same good outcomes.

When people are told that they have a frozen shoulder, they have many questions. Some people want to know what they have to do to get rid of it, others want to know how long it will take to get rid of it for good. Some however want to know how much therapy will be needed to eliminate the frozen shoulder. In other words, people want to know how many days a week will they have to commit to working on the elimination program.

While I would love to say there is a clear-cut answer to this, as always it depends. Much of this depends on a few different things. It will depend on what program the person is following? How bad the frozen shoulder is? What is the patient’s schedule like? Depending on those answers will influence just how many days in the week the program will have to be followed.

I have successfully treated people in as little as three days a week, and others I have treated for five days a week. Finally, some people can get away with doing a program twice a week too. Usually, a three-day a week program can be very successful with a days rest in-between each session.

I have found that people are most successful when their frozen shoulder programs have all of the essential components included in every session. It is always important that each area that needs to be addressed is worked on each time. For example, strengthening, range of motion exercises, and stretching need to be included in a well thought out program each day. By incorporating each of these aspects, a person can and will be much more successful and will not need to do more than two or three days a week.

With the many different treatment options, programs and advice that are out there for dealing with frozen shoulder, coupled with the fact that many people never have true success in getting rid of their frozen shoulder, the question must be asked; “How successful is frozen shoulder treatment?”

Frozen shoulder elimination treatments can be successful if the program that is being followed is a solid program that includes all of the essential components. Strength training, stretching, soft-tissue work and range of motion exercises, all need to be included in a good plan. Further, there needs to be a 100% commitment from the patient to the program. Consistency and hard work is essential for success.

Many people fall into the trap of only working on one or two aspects of the problem. For example, some people think that if they just stretch the muscles in and around the shoulder that this will be enough to get rid of their frozen shoulder. Although stretching always needs to be in the program, it is only one part of the puzzle. By working on all of the issues, such as getting rid of soft-tissue restrictions, strengthening the muscles that surround the shoulder and including range of motion exercises in all directions, a person will be much more successful in treating their frozen shoulder.

Frozen shoulder does not have to be a permanent issue for people. People that have found a complete program that includes the aspects that are mentioned above, and are consistent with their therapy are ultimately successful in treating their frozen shoulder. Most of the success depends on consistency and commitment to a good program. Frozen shoulder can be treated successfully and kept away forever like this.

Many people have encountered bad programs, or limited success with therapy and have not been successful with their frozen shoulder. For the people that have found complete programs and have been consistent, success is almost always certain.