Frozen Shoulder Treatment and Exercise Blog

What are the proper steps to treating frozen shoulder? There are 2

1.Get Diagnosed

2. Use a Comprehensive Frozen Shoulder Program

You want to find a program that includes: Strengthening, Stretching, Range of Motion work, and Soft Tissue work to eliminate adhesions and knots which are restricting your movement.

A solid frozen shoulder treatment plan will not only get rid of your frozen shoulder but keep it from coming back. Frozen shoulder does come back. I just had an email exchange with a new client and it was the 3 time that she had frozen shoulder (in the same shoulder everytime).

When I started asking her questions about the program that she had used prior to becoming one of my clients I discovered that she had never done any soft tissue work for her shoulder and had only done a little bit of strengthening. Her program mostly consisted of stretching. If you’re a regular reader of my blog then you know that stretching is not enough to get rid of frozen shoulder.

Most people don’t know a lot about the soft tissue part of treatment. Go here to see my 90 seconds to frozen shoulder pain relief where I show you exactly how to put soft tissue work to work for you.

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.

Many people erroneously think that only stretching will be enough to cure their frozen shoulder. While stretching is a very important aspect of any good frozen shoulder elimination program, it is only one component and true success is only derived when you combine stretching with other essential aspects.

Stretching is only part of the answer for eliminating frozen shoulder, but not the whole answer. It is important to realize that frozen shoulder is a very complex problem and there are many different things going on in and around your shoulder joint if you are suffering from frozen shoulder.

Besides stretching, proper strengthening of the shoulder joint and surrounding muscles is essential. While stretching will help increase range of motion of certain muscles and muscle groups, strengthening will enable the joint to move further through the range of motion, keeping the shoulder area strong and free of stiffness. Proper strengthening helps you to achieve greater range of motion in all directions because when the muscles and muscle groups are active and working properly, they will better be able to pull the arm through various directions and planes.

Another component that needs to be in every frozen shoulder elimination program, is quality soft-tissue work. The soft tissue consists of the muscles, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissue that is found in and around the joint. In people with frozen shoulder, this soft-tissue will shorten, form adhesions, knots and sticky scar tissues

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.