Frozen Shoulders Treated With Massage Therapy: Hollywood,Florida

Frozen shoulder, also known as Adhesive Capsulitis, is a condition that affects the shoulder joint capsule and results in stiffness and loss of movement in the shoulder joint. It is different from rotator cuff injury or shoulder tendonitis in that frozen shoulder affects the joint capsule, where as the other two conditions affect the muscles and tendons of the shoulder joint.

Anatomy of the Shoulder Joint
The shoulder joint is a truly remarkable creation. It's quite a complex formation of bones, muscles and tendons and provides a great range of motion for your arm. The only downside to this extensive range of motion is a lack of stability, which can make the shoulder joint vulnerable to injury.

Shoulder Muscle Group picture used from "Principles of Anatomy and Physiology" - Sixth Edition. By G.J. Tortora and N.P. Anagnostakos. Published by Harper & Row - 1990

The shoulder is made up of three bones, and the tendons of four muscles. (Remember, tendons attach muscle to bone.) The bones are called the "Scapula," the "Humerus" and the "Clavicle." Or, in layman's terms, the shoulder blade, the upper arm bone and the collarbone, respectively.

The four muscles which make up the shoulder joint are called, "Supraspinatus," "Infraspinatus," "Teres Minor" and "Subscapularis." It is the tendons of these muscles, which connect to the bones that help to move your arm.

Frozen shoulder occurs in the shoulder joint at the point where the humerus bone fits into the socket of the shoulder, (the glenohumeral joint). The supporting ligaments and surrounding capsule become inflamed causing stiffness and limited motion.

What Causes Frozen Shoulder?
The exact cause of frozen shoulder is unknown, however in a number of cases, frozen shoulder occurs after another shoulder injury like rotator cuff tear, arthritis or shoulder surgery.

Also, poor posture can cause a shortening of the ligaments around the shoulder joint, which can lead to frozen shoulder. Other theories have suggested that hormonal and genetic conditions like diabetes and hyperthyroidism can also contribute to frozen shoulder.

Symptom of Frozen Shoulder
The most common symptoms of frozen shoulder are pain and stiffness. Pain usually takes the form of a persistent dull ache and stiffness prevents the full range of motion of the shoulder and upper arm. Patients are often unable to lift the arm above their head or rotate their arm inward.

The normal progression of frozen shoulder has been described as having three stages.

In stage one, (the freezing phase) the patient begins to develop mild pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint. This stage can last from a few weeks to a few months.
In stage two, (the frozen phase) the stiffness remains but the pain begins to decline. This stage can last from a few months to nearly a year.
In stage three, (the thawing phase) the full range of movement begins to return to the shoulder joint. This stage can also last a few months.

Most sufferers of frozen shoulder will be fully recovered within 4 to 6 months but some cases have lasted for up to three years, although these are extremely rare.

Treatment
Frozen shoulder treatment primarily consists of pain relief and physical therapy techniques. Pain relief usually takes the form of anti-inflammatory medication and the aim here is to reduce the pain enough so that physical therapy can be initiated.

Two other forms of therapy should also be considered; heat and massage.

Heat is extremely good for increasing blood flow to a particular area. Heat lamps and hot water bottles are the most effective way to increase blood flow; while heat based creams are distant second choices.
Massage is one of the best ways to increase blood flow to an injured area, and of course the oxygen and nutrients that go with it. The other benefit of massage is that it helps to reduce the amount of scar tissue which is associated with all muscle, tendon and joint injuries.

Conclusion
Adhesive capsulitis can be debilitating and cause long-term impairment. Proper treatment can mean the difference between a several-months-long disability or one of several years. Even with therapeutic results, this condition may require a long rehabilitation.

SAFE STRETCHING

Warm up.
Warms muscles are more flexible than cold muscles. Warming up with five minutes of aerobics, such as walking around the block or riding a stationary bike, increases blood flow to the muscles and tendons and decreases the chance of injury.

A warm shower or bath also warms up muscles and prepares them for stretching exercises

Stretch Gently. Avoid bouncing. Stretch until you feel a tug. Hold a stretch for about 30 seconds. Do not stretch to the point of pain. Over-stretching can tear muscles.

Breathe: Do not hold your breath during exercise. Breathe normally during stretching exercises

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