Thaw Your Frozen Shoulder With Chiropractic

Woman experiencing frozen shoulder

Chiropractic Care for Frozen Shoulder Syndrome

Simple movements become painful or impossible when you have adhesive capsulitis, commonly called frozen shoulder. When your shoulder joint doesn't move freely, it's hard to raise your arm to retrieve a box of cereal from a high shelf, change a light bulb, or even hug a friend. Luckily, your chiropractor offers natural treatments that will improve your range of movement and decrease pain and inflammation.

How a Frozen Shoulder Develops

Your shoulder joint is surrounded by a layer of connective tissue called the shoulder capsule. If you injure your shoulder or have surgery, the connective tissue that forms the capsule may thicken or tighten, restricting the movement of your shoulder joint. Scar tissue, or adhesions, may also begin to form, limiting movement even more. You can also develop a frozen shoulder even if you don't remember injuring the joint.

Freezing is the first phase of the condition. While your shoulder is freezing, pain is common. You may also notice that it's a little difficult to move your shoulder. Once the condition reaches the frozen stage, pain may decrease, but raising or moving your arm will become very difficult.

Eventually, your shoulder will begin to thaw on its own. Unfortunately, the thawing process can take 6 months to 2 years, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

How Chiropractic Treatment Can Speed the Thawing Process

If a year or two sounds like a long time to wait to use your shoulder, it's time to pay a visit to your chiropractic. Chiropractic treatment can relieve your pain and improve your ability to move your shoulder. After performing an examination and possibly ordering a test or two to determine the severity of your condition, your chiropractor may recommend one or more of these treatment options:

  • Spinal Manipulation. Your issues may not be solely limited to your shoulder if you have a frozen shoulder. Tightness in your shoulder capsule can stress nearby muscles, triggering muscle spasms and pulling the vertebrae in your spine out of alignment. Spinal manipulation, a hands-on chiropractic treatment that realigns your spine can be helpful. Manipulating your collarbone and shoulder may help relieve stiffness and spasms and improve your range of motion.
  • Niel Asher Technique. This painless technique involves stretching and manipulating the bones and tissues in the joint to loosen the shoulder. The technique can decrease pain and reduce stiffness and swelling that limits shoulder movement.
  • Massage and Soft Tissue Mobilization. Your chiropractor may use one or both of these therapies to break apart adhesions and loosen tight tissues that prevent your shoulder joint from moving freely. Treatments also improve blood flow and trigger the release of natural chemicals that act as pain killers.
  • Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Electrical nerve stimulation therapy prevents pain signals from reaching your brain. If your brain doesn't receive the signals, you won't feel pain. During the treatment, a gentle electrical current is delivered through electrodes placed on your skin.
  • Stretching Exercises. Your chiropractor will teach you several exercises that will help loosen your shoulder joint and improve your range of motion. Performing the exercises between visits to the chiropractic office will help you avoid setbacks in your treatment.

A retrospective case series published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine in 2012 revealed the positive effects of chiropractic treatment for frozen shoulder. Of the 50 cases reviewed, 16 patients experienced 100 percent improvement, 25 had 75 to 90 percent improvement, 8 patients noticed 50 to 75 percent improvement, and one showed 0 to 50 percent improvement after treatment. The length of treatment ranged from 11 to 51 days.

Are you ready to try chiropractic treatment for your frozen shoulder? Call our office to arrange your visit.

Sources:

Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, Chiropractic Management of Frozen Shoulder Syndrome Using a Novel Technique: A Retrospective Case Series of 50 Patients, 12/12

Chiropractic Economics: Thawing Out the Frozen Shoulder, 2/4/15

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Frozen Shoulder

Niel Asher: Trigger Point Therapy – 5-Ste- Shoulder Technique, 11/24/18

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  • "Life would not be the same without Dr. Jayne! In addition to being the loveliest and most caring person, she's an extraordinary chiropractor. She truly has healing hands, an incredible knowledge of the body (MY body!), an uncanny gift for knowing exactly what the issue is right away, and then correcting it effectively. I always know I can rely on her to correct my neck and back issues when they arise, sometimes just after one visit. And Dr. Lou and Jayne's staff are wonderful - kind and patient, and always extremely helpful. I wouldn't go anywhere else."
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  • "Dr Jayne and Dr Lou are both amazing! They offer not just great care, but a warm, welcoming atmosphere— truly family friendly! They go above and beyond and truly care about the whole patient, well beyond chiropractic care. Dr Jayne has offered amazing support and solace through my journey as a new mom and I will always be grateful!"
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  • "Absolutely amazing ! First, the staff was very friendly. I am 8 months pregnant and I've had a lot of back/shoulder pain, and the doctor Jayne was very friendly and professional. You can tell she know what she's doing. She did an amazing job, when I got up from the chair I felt like I was 10 years old again ! My pain was completely gone. I am so happy I have found that place !"
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  • "I've seen a whole bunch of chiropractors and Lou and Jayne are the best, by far. They're also two of the sweetest people I know."
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  • "I have no words to express my gratitude for Dr. Jayne. I was looking for a Webster Technique chiropractor during my pregnancy and I am so happy I found her. Thanks to her treatments we were able to turn the baby in optimal position and avoid any kind of medical interventions during delivery. But most of all, I valued her precious advice and physical and emotional support during before and after my baby was born. The most beautiful moment of all was giving my son his very first adjustment when he was only couple of days old. I definitely recommend her and her team!"
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  • "For two days I have been dealing with that ache in my bicep and having to stretch my hand and it constantly cracking...within minutes of leaving your office from my adjustment my ache is gone and no need to stretch the hand and when I did no cracking. Magic Hands I tell ya!!"
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