• Written by William F. Neckman, LMT, NMT

Frozen shoulder syndrome, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that causes stiffness and pain to occur in the shoulder region. The shoulder will eventually become very difficult to move. This condition is relatively rare, but it will show up in about 2% of the population. Those who are affected most often tend to be between 40 and 60 years old, and it happens to women more than it does to men.

What Are the Causes?

While the actual causes of this condition are not entirely known, there are some factors that seem to play a role. Frozen shoulder seems to occur more often in people who have diabetes. In fact, it will affect between 10% and 20% of diabetics, although the reason this happens is unknown. Other diseases that seem to be associated with frozen shoulder syndrome include cardiac disease, Parkinson’s disease, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
In addition, if a shoulder has been immobilized for a long period, it could also present these symptoms. For example, if someone has had surgery, suffered a fractured shoulder or other type of shoulder injury where they are unable to move their arm, it could turn into frozen shoulder syndrome.
There is no evidence that frozen shoulder syndrome occurs more in the dominant arm, and occupation does not seem to influence the syndrome.

What Are the Symptoms?

Someone who is suffering from this syndrome will typically feel a dull or aching pain in the shoulder. The pain can be greater in the early part of the disease, but it may be more difficult to move the arm as the disease starts to progress. The pain will typically encompass the outer shoulder area, but it could also cause pain in the upper part of the arm.

What Are the Treatment Options for Frozen Shoulder Syndrome?

Fortunately, there is a range of nonsurgical treatment options available for patients who are suffering from frozen shoulder syndrome. In some cases, when the therapy options do not help, it may eventually be necessary to have surgery. However, most will want to explore their therapeutic options first. At the Rio Vista Wellness Center, we can offer various approaches to helping patients who are suffering from this issue.

One of the best choices is called the MyoKinesthetic System. This type of therapy can provide relief for pain and loss of motion. It can help with the muscles, soft tissues, and nerves, and it is performed by a licensed massage therapist. It is a relatively simple type of therapy that aims to look for the nerve root that is causing the pain. The treatment itself is painless and risk free. The therapy sessions tend to be short – around half an hour on average. Most of the time patients can see good results from the treatment within the first three sessions.

Another option to consider is neuromuscular therapy, which is also called trigger point myotherapy. This is another type of massage therapy that could work well for you. The therapist will apply pressure to points of the body using the knuckles, elbows, or fingers for up to 30 seconds at a time. It is effective for a range of conditions, and it could help those who are suffering from frozen shoulder syndrome.

You do not have to live with the pain of this syndrome. You can find healthy and safe options for improving your condition, such as the therapies mentioned here.