Key Takeaways:
- Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint, affecting mobility and daily activities.
- Physiotherapy is essential in managing a frozen shoulder by enhancing movement, reducing discomfort, and supporting recovery.
- Manual therapy, strengthening exercises, and rehabilitation technology aim to help address shoulder pain and function.
Have you been struggling with persistent shoulder pain and limited mobility? You might be dealing with a frozen shoulder—a condition that can make even simple movements difficult and painful. The good news is that there are various options for relief, including physiotherapy. In this article, we’ll explore what a frozen shoulder is and how physiotherapy can play a crucial role in treatment.
What is a Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder, medically known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that leads to severe stiffness and restricted movement in the shoulder joint. The shoulder’s range of motion becomes significantly limited, often making even everyday tasks challenging.
The symptoms of this condition develop gradually and can be broken down into three stages:
- Freezing stage: This is where pain intensifies, especially with movement, and the shoulder starts to feel tight.
- Frozen stage: The pain may reduce, but stiffness persists, making it difficult to move the arm.
- Thawing stage: This stage sees gradual improvement in the shoulder’s range of motion, although it can take months.
How Can Physiotherapy Help My Frozen Shoulder?
Physiotherapy can play a key role in frozen shoulder treatment. It aims to reduce discomfort and help improve shoulder mobility, supporting the recovery process and promoting better function over time.
1. Manual Therapy
A common physiotherapy technique used in the treatment of a frozen shoulder is manual therapy. This includes hands-on techniques, such as:
- Joint mobilisations: The physiotherapist may use gentle movements to help address stiffness in the shoulder joint, potentially easing discomfort and improving flexibility.
- Soft tissue release: The therapist applies pressure to the surrounding muscles and tissues, aiming to reduce tightness and support movement.
- Stretching techniques: Gentle stretching of the shoulder muscles and joint capsule to enhance the range of motion and alleviate discomfort.
2. Strengthening Exercises
Building strength in the muscles that support the frozen shoulder is an important part of recovery and preventing its recurrence. Physiotherapy for shoulder pain often incorporates a range of exercises to target specific muscle groups—such as the deltoids, trapezius, infraspinatus, and subscapularis. This ensures that the shoulder joint and rotator cuff are well-supported, reducing the likelihood of future injury and discomfort.
Some exercises your physiotherapist may recommend include:
- Scapular retraction
- Posterior capsule stretch
- Isometric shoulder external rotation
3. Tech-Enhanced Physiotherapy
In addition to traditional physiotherapy techniques, many private physiotherapy clinics use technology to aid in the treatment of frozen shoulders. The TECAR Machine, for example, uses capacitative and resistive energy transfer to support deep-tissue healing, address inflammation, and reduce discomfort in targeted areas. The Hur Multifunction Machine is another tool used in tech-enhanced physiotherapy, featuring an adaptive resistance system that adjusts to the patient’s strength. This machine is typically employed to enhance shoulder exercises, helping patients strengthen and stabilise specific muscle groups supporting the affected shoulder.
The combination of hands-on techniques and rehabilitation technology may contribute to a more efficient recovery process.
Start Your Journey to Better Mobility with Saldo Rehabilitation
Managing a frozen shoulder can be frustrating and painful, but with the right approach, it is possible to address the root causes and support recovery. Physiotherapy—incorporating manual therapy, strengthening exercises, and technology-enhanced techniques—plays a key role in the treatment of frozen shoulder, helping to improve mobility, reduce discomfort, and promote overall shoulder function.
At Saldo Rehabilitation, we offer private physiotherapy designed to meet your individual needs, focusing on your recovery in a comfortable and supportive setting. Our team of therapists uses modern techniques to assist with mobility and comfort, working with you to help you reach your recovery goals.
Contact us today to learn more.
