Physical Therapy for Frozen Shoulder

A frozen shoulder is a seriously limiting condition that happens when your arm gets stiff because of scar tissue. This is especially common after surgeries and injuries, but it can happen insidiously as well. Bursitis and tendinitis are common culprits. No matter what the cause, physical therapy can help. The therapist's end game here is to restore your arm to normal, painless motion. Before creating a plan for your therapy, your therapist will first perform an introductory assessment in order to determine which stage your frozen shoulder is at. The therapy will then be tailored specifically to you, as different stages require different treatment techniques.

The most effective way for your therapist to determine the stage of your injury is to simply ask you some questions. Your answers will reveal where your treatment will begin. In the first stage of a frozen shoulder, your loss of motion isn't complete. Your shoulder aches often, and when you move it, it hurts even worse. In the second stage, movement is severely limited, but not impossible. In the third stage, the pain actually begins to increase, but your range of motion is even further inhibited. Finally, in stage four, your shoulder begins to thaw. The pain decreases dramatically, and your range of motion begins to expand.

The goal of your therapy won't just be to increase your range of motion. It will also be to reduce your pain. To that end, your therapist will most likely apply heat or ice packs prior to a session of stretching and manual therapy. This will relax your muscles. Not all of your stretching will be done in your therapist's office, though. He or she will also prepare a home exercise regimen for you. In cases where your pain is severe, your therapist may very well prescribe an injection of pain medicine into the affected site. These pain medications are not effective in the long run, but they do help you manage your pain as you heal.

Some people are hesitant to visit physical therapists because they've heard that it can be a painful experience. After your first visit, you will be surprised how gentle and compassionate physical therapists can be. At first, the goal won't necessarily be to increase your range of motion as quickly as possible. Instead, your therapist will most likely want to focus on reducing your pain and the further loss mobility. As you continue to heal, your therapist will help you increase your range of motion more aggressively.