How Chiropractic Care Treats Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder is a painful, restrictive condition that can truly happen to anyone. Also known as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder is a condition that causes stiffness and pain in your shoulder joint. If you suspect that you have a frozen shoulder, you may be fully aware of the injury that caused it. However, some people develop frozen shoulder symptoms without ever actually being "hurt" at all.

While symptoms of frozen shoulder syndrome often come on slowly, it's only a matter of time before you're dealing with extreme pain, restricted range of motion, and a worry that you'll never be able to resume doing the things that are important to you. Frozen shoulder syndrome should never be dismissed as normal. However, getting relief for this painful condition doesn't necessarily have to mean undergoing invasive procedures. Take a look at the cold, hard facts on frozen shoulder when it comes to causes, symptoms, and treatment options that are available to you!

What Causes Frozen Shoulder?

You don't have to sustain a specific type of injury to develop frozen shoulder syndrome. Frozen shoulder can be caused by a wide variety of injuries and underlying conditions. The shoulder joint is complex. It is formed by a network of tendons, ligaments, and tissues that connect your bones and muscles. This complex network is covered by your connective tissue capsule. Unfortunately, different factors can cause the tissue to become tightened. When this happens, you're left with restricted movement, pain, and other telltale symptoms of frozen shoulder.

It's very common for frozen shoulder to be caused by an injury. The shoulder joint can be injured when lifting heavy objects, swinging an object, being hit on the side of the body, or falling. People who experience the inflammatory conditions of shoulder bursitis and tendinitis are also more likely to develop frozen shoulder because these conditions irritate the cords attached to the bone and muscle. In addition, diabetes is a known risk factor for developing frozen shoulder. You're also at increased risk for developing frozen shoulder if you've suffered from a broken or fractured arm. Finally, previous shoulder and arm surgeries also increase your risk of developing frozen shoulder.

What Are the Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder symptoms can present in several different ways. Not everyone with frozen shoulder will necessarily experience every symptom. Here's a look at the common signs that you're living with frozen shoulder:

• Dull or achy pain in one shoulder.
• A pain that wraps around the top of the arm.
• Pain that increases at night.
• Stiffness makes it difficult to move your shoulder.

What's especially interesting about frozen shoulder is that it's usually experienced in a three-phase cycle that consists of a freezing stage, a frozen stage, and a thawing stage. During the freezing stage, you might develop pain that is felt every time you move your shoulder. The pain is often accompanied by a limited range of motion. The freezing stage of frozen shoulder syndrome can last anywhere from six to nine months for most people. The frozen stage happens next. During this phase, stiffness increases even if pain begins to get better. Many people find it nearly impossible to move their shoulders. As a result, this is the stage where many people can no longer complete daily activities. The frozen stage will typically last between four and 12 months. Finally, the thawing stage may kick in to provide some relief. As your body heals from a shoulder injury, you may find that your range of motion begins to return to normal. However, it can take several years before the body enters the thawing stage unless a person seeks intervention to promote healing.

How does a Chiropractor treat Frozen Shoulder?

Most patients with frozen shoulder syndrome appear to improve with chiropractic treatment, according to a study looking at chiropractic management of frozen shoulder syndrome. There are many different techniques used by chiropractors to try to restore function to the shoulder. Here's a look:

• Chiropractic Adjustment Targeting the Shoulder: This is the most common treatment for frozen shoulder. Using manual stimulation, a chiropractor will perform adjustments to improve joint mobility in the affected area. Targeting the shoulder and collarbone area can be effective for reducing inflammation that is causing dysfunction. Many people find instant pain relief using chiropractic adjustments for frozen shoulder. In addition, many people find that their range of motion is also restored.
• Chiropractic Adjustments in the Spine: In many cases, adjusting the cervical spine, thoracic spine, and surrounding joints can be effective for bringing the entire nervous system back into alignment. The truth is that a shoulder injury is likely to be affecting the surrounding tissue. Taking care of the entire central nervous system can address inflammation and dysfunction that is getting in the way of proper healing.
• Electric Muscle Stimulation: Electric stimulation can be an accompanying treatment that helps to stimulate circulation and blood flow in an area of scar tissue to promote faster healing. Many people find that this is an effective method for reducing swelling and inflammation.
• Active Release Technique (ART): This method uses a combination of deep-focused pressure and stretching to break up fibrotic tissue along the joints and muscles.
• Post-Isometric Relaxation (PIR): This is a stretching technique that can help to calm spastic muscles surrounding the affected joint. It is known to be especially effective for restoring range of motion in people suffering from frozen shoulder syndrome.
• Corticosteroid Injection: This is considered a short-term fix that can help to reduce pain and range of motion when suffering from acute shoulder dysfunction.
• Dry Needling: Dry needling is quickly becoming a popular treatment for all types of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction because it is a natural, non-invasive therapy that provides great results for many people. Dry needling targets trigger points to help restore range of motion. According to a 2014 study, dry needling for frozen shoulder has been shown to significantly improve shoulder range of motion in all planes.
• Stretching: One of the benefits of working with a chiropractor is that patients are taught stretches and movements that can help them to stretch muscles and joints daily. In addition to promoting healing, these techniques can also be effective in preventing further injury.

Many people suffering from frozen shoulder syndrome are told that surgery is the best way to stretch and release a stiff joint capsule to get relief. However, surgery can be an unattractive option for many people seeking to avoid the recovery time, potential complications, and cost of surgery. What's more, it's unclear from the current research available if surgery provides any benefit over chiropractic techniques for relieving symptoms of frozen shoulder.

Get Treatment for Frozen Shoulder

Waiting for frozen shoulder syndrome to heal on its own could mean years of living with pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. One of the most frustrating aspects of frozen shoulder syndrome is that symptoms can be unpredictable. That means that you never quite know how you'll feel when you wake up in the morning on any given day. Chiropractic treatment for frozen shoulder can help to speed up healing to help you enjoy pain-free living with a restored range of motion. Surgery doesn't have to be the only option if you're desperate to get relief from your frozen shoulder symptoms. Don't freeze out your opportunity to do the things you want to do in life without pain and restriction. Call today to schedule a consultation to learn about cutting-edge natural treatments and therapies for frozen shoulder that can give you your life back!