FROZEN SHOULDER TREATMENT

Frozen shoulder generally gets better over time, and can take anywhere from 1-3 years. The focus of treatment is to control pain and restore motion and strength through rehabilitation exercises. More than 90% of patients improve with relatively simple treatments to control pain and restore motion.

We incorporate a combination of the following effective treatments for treating the symptoms of a frozen shoulder:

What is the Most Effective Treatment for Frozen Shoulder? 

Frozen shoulder generally gets better over time, and can take anywhere from 1-3 years. The focus of treatment is to control pain and restore motion and strength through rehabilitation exercises. More than 90% of patients improve with relatively simple treatments to control pain and restore motion.

Rehabilitation Exercises 

Your commitment to doing your exercises consistently and regularly is crucial to optimal recovery. Here at Oshawa Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Wellness Centre, we will work with you every step of the way to eliminate the pain and restore function to your body to prevent the injury from reoccurring.

What is Frozen Shoulder? 

Frozen Shoulder (properly known as Adhesive Capsulitis), is a condition characterized by stiffness, restriction, and pain in your shoulder joint. Signs and symptoms typically begin gradually and worsen over time. Pain is usually dull or aching and located over the outer shoulder area and sometimes the upper arm. Depending on the severity of the injury, the resolution can take one to three years.

What Causes Frozen Shoulder? 

The causes of frozen shoulder are not fully understood. The bones, ligaments, and tendons that make up your shoulder joint are encased in a capsule of connective tissue. When the joint becomes compromised due to an injury, postural imbalances or improper mechanics, the humerus no longer sits correctly in the glenoid fossa and the joint capsule thickens and tightens around the shoulder joint, restricting its movement. The areas where there is uneven pressure becomes inflamed, which leads to the capsulitis. The inflammation reduces the range of motion and can cause significant pain.

Frozen Shoulder develops slowly, and progresses through three stages, each of which can last a few months.

  • Freezing Stage: most movements of the shoulder cause pain and range of motion becomes limited
  • Frozen Stage: painful symptoms may improve during this stage, but the shoulder becomes stiffer and using it becomes more difficult
  • Thawing Stage: range of motion begins to improve