Frozen Shoulder Treatment – What is The best Treatment for Frozen Shoulder?

In order to be successful with treating frozen shoulder you need to have completed a thorough case history and objective orthopedic testing.

Combining general massage techniques, myofascial release techniques and a postural balance exercise program is good way to start.

Once you have gone through your assessment it is time to get to business with treating the frozen shoulder that your client presents with.

Frozen shoulder symptoms have been discussed in another blog post

Frozen Shoulder Therapy Treatment- an Oil Free Treatment

General findings on assessment tend to be restricted abduction, lateral rotation and medial rotation.  The muscles to treat would be pectoralis major and minor, subscapularis, latissimus dorsi, upper fibres of trapezius and subclavius.

We must remember that during the last 90 degrees of abduction the clavicle must be able to elevate posteriorly 30 to 60 and rotate 50 degrees posteriorly. If the subclavius muscle is shortened or in a holding pattern abduction is limited to to 120 degrees.

The subclavius muscle tends to be forgotten in many shoulder treatments as most focus is put toward the subscapularis.

Joint play at the glenohumeral joint will be necessary to help regain abduction and external rotation.

As with any type of massage treatment there is more than one way to get the same results – pain free range of motion.

Here is one approach to treating adhesive capsulitis

Frozen Shoulder Treatment Massage

Client Position: Prone (face down)to start.

Frozen Shoulder Treatment – Techniques:
1. Moist Heat on the Anterior surface of the glenohumeral joint.
1. Direct or indirect myofascial release to the back -general work
2. Myofascial Release of the Latissimus Dorsi – watch this short video
3. Scapular Mobilization

Frozen Shoulder Treatment- Supine (face up)

Techniques:
1. Long axis traction (distraction)
2. Myofascial release of the pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, subscapularis, upper fibers of trapezius and subclavius.
3. Transverse friction of the anterior capsule of the shoulder
4. Anterior, inferior and lateral glides of the humerous.
5. Anterior and posterior glide of the sternoclavicular joint

You may also want to visit massagetherapypros youtube channel as well
for more frozen shoulder treatment ideas with advanced myofascial release techniques.

Frozen Shoulder Exercises

Pendulum swings 3 times 30 clockwise, 3 times 30 counter clockwise
Shoulder Retraction work up to 3 sets of ten
Lateral Rotation work up to 3 sets of ten
video

There are many more frozen shoulder exercises you may do or give to your client as these are good to get them started. This should give your some frozen shoulder relief.