Frozen shoulder treatment

What is frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder, medically known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that causes severe pain, stiffness and limited range of motion. It is caused when the connective tissue capsule surrounding the shoulder joint thickens, tightens and develops scar tissue. While the cause is often unknown, it is common after immobilization due to surgery, injury or illness. Certain risk factors include diabetes, thyroid problems and age (more common in woman 40-70 years old).

Frozen Shoulder Stages

• Freezing (6 weeks to 9 months) – at this stage the pain starts to increase while the range of motion decreases

• Frozen (4-12 months) – Increased stiffness, pain may start to subside

• Thawing (6 months- 2 years) – Range of motion slowly improves

How can a chiropractor help with frozen shoulder?

Chiropractors treat frozen shoulders with a drug free, conservative approach to help manage pain and speed up the recovery process. Patients often report a significant improvement in range of motion and pain reduction.

How chiropractic care treats frozen shoulder

• Joint manipulation and Mobilization – certain techniques are applied to break up scar tissue and restore mobility to the shoulder capsule

• Soft tissue therapy – manual therapies target muscles surrounding the joint to reduce stiffness

• Exercise and stretching – your chiropractor can teach you specific, daily stretches to maintain mobility while preventing further injury

• Cervical and thoracic spine adjustment – specific adjustments may be used to address compensation patterns and help improve nerve function If you think you may benefit from our care for your frozen shoulder please call us at 513-444-4529 to schedule Dr. Kauffman has decades of experience in treating patients with shoulder conditions. Visit your Cincinnati area chiropractor by calling 513-444-4529.

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