Osteopathy for frozen shoulder
Are you living with shoulder pain that can worsen at night? Or stiffness in this region that makes it difficult to move your shoulder? If you answered ‘yes’ to both of the above, you could be suffering from frozen shoulder.
Medically known as Adhesive Capsulitis, frozen shoulder is a debilitating condition affecting* up to 5% of the population. Generally speaking, the symptoms of this painful ailment are typically mild at first. But they can worsen over the course of a few months.
By all means, in a world where quick fixes have become the norm, over-the-counter pain killers like paracetamol can help you mask the pain. And, if left to its own devices, frozen shoulder can normally get better on its own within one to two years**.
But as an Osteopath and Naturopath, who qualified in Osteopathic Medicine 30 years ago, I’m committed to getting to the origin of the issue sooner rather than later through non-invasive means and drug-free therapies. Doing so not only helps to ease the chronic pain you might be feeling, but it works to restore your body’s natural functions and prevent the condition from returning.
What is frozen shoulder caused by?
With a name like frozen shoulder, you could be fooled into thinking that this crippling health condition is caused by frosty weather forecasts. And while the colder months of the year can cause the body to tighten, plummeting temperatures aren’t the fundamental cause of the issue.
Instead, frozen shoulder occurs when the tissue around the capsule of your shoulder or glenohumeral joint becomes inflamed. This can happen when scar-like tissue (adhesions) form in the joint capsule, which can occur after injury or surgery.
Restrictions in the shoulder complex can also be a major contributing factor.
Diabetes is another risk factor, as research*** shows that those who have Type 1 and/or Type 2 are more likely to develop frozen shoulder.
All this pain and persistent shoulder stiffness can make it painful and difficult to carry out the full range of normal shoulder movements. Meaning frozen shoulder sufferers can struggle with performing everyday tasks, such as bathing, dressing, driving and sleeping comfortably.
How long does a frozen shoulder last?
That all depends. There are three separate stages to the condition. But how long frozen shoulder symptoms last will vary from person to person.
- Stage one: known as the ‘freezing’ stage, any movement of the shoulder can cause pain. This pain is often heightened at night and it can last anywhere between 2-9 months.
- Stage two: this is the ‘frozen’ stage, where your shoulder may become increasingly stiff and difficult to move. This stage usually lasts from 4-12 months.
- Stage three: often called the ‘thawing’ phase, the shoulder’s ability to move begins to improve. This stage can last 12 months or more.
How do you help resolve frozen shoulder?
Traditional pain relief can help relieve the discomfort. And steroid injections may also be advised by your GP.
But if you’re looking for a validated, regulated and increasingly researched non-pharmacological way to ease the pain and stiffness then it’s well worth visiting an Osteopath as there are many common conditions treated by an Osteopath — and frozen shoulder is one of them.
Osteopathy treatment for frozen shoulder
To do so, a detailed case history including a full medical history will be taken to get to the root cause of the problem. Then, a full assessment of the shoulder complex, which involves additional assessment of the upper back, would take place.
That’s because a core principle of Osteopathy is to facilitate the body’s innate ability to heal. By addressing the root causes of dysfunction, osteopaths aim to restore balance and optimise function, empowering patients to achieve lasting well-being.
Patients would then get a personalised treatment plan, utilising a combination of Osteopathic treatments, like gentle soft tissue work and joint articulation, and other allied therapies, like Western Acupuncture and Low Level Laser Therapy.
The prescription of exercises and lifestyle suggestions might also be made, to help patients make positive changes in their lives that can significantly impact their overall well-being.
Research proves frozen shoulder responds well to osteopathic treatments
For example, a 2022 article which looked at the function of Osteopathic medicine in the treatment of Adhesive Capsulitis, found that after just one examination the Osteopath was able to diagnose and successfully restore cervical spine mobility problems and relieve a trapezius muscle spasm. Researchers noted that this resulted in the patient being able to dress herself for the first time in over a year.
While a second report, which looked into the effectiveness of Osteopathic treatment in pain management in a patient with frozen shoulder and neck pain, found some interesting results.
For starters, the patient could immediately reduce her drug intake and completely stopped taking them after 12 sessions. After 14, she resumed almost complete work activity and the range of motion in her shoulder was restored.
If you’re a frozen shoulder sufferer don’t let this condition continue to blight you through the rest of 2025 and beyond. Instead, contact us to discuss your condition in more detail or book in an appointment here.
*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532955/
