Physical Therapy For Frozen Shoulder

The physical Therapist’s Role for Frozen Shoulder

physical therapy for frozen shoulder

Physical therapy may be prescribed by your doctor to help relieve pain, regain mobility, and strengthen your shoulder muscle. It is particularly valuable in freeing up or preventing a frozen shoulder.

Physical therapist may use a combination of the following treatments :

Exercise, exercises for frozen shoulder serves two functions ; first, to increase the motion in the shoulder joint, second, tominimize the loss of muscle on the affected arm ( muscle atrophy ), a physical therapist can supervise your exercise program, assisting you in doing the appropriate exercises correctly, and showing you to avoid motions that will hinder your progress.

The physical therapist also has special exercise equipment available for your use. One is a “ wall ladder “ for your fingers to helf you in doing the wall walking exercise. Another is a shoulder wheel with a knob that you grasp as you swing your arm around. Pulleys and weightlifting machines are also on hand. A goniometer, which measures the shoulder’s range of motion, is used to monitor your progress. Special isokinetic exercise equipment may also be used to provide evaluation as well as strengthening.

Heat, Hot packs may be applied to help relax shoulder muscle spasme. Applications of heat to the shoulder can help to loosen the joint and provide relief of pain. Patients can apply to the shoulder, then perform their stretching exercises–this should be done at least three times daily on the joint for 10 minutes before stretching. To heat slightly deeper tissues, diathermy can be done with a special electrical machine.

Ultrasound, uses high frequency sound waves (not within the range we can hear) to stimulate the deep tissues within the body and to heat specific area all the way to the bone. By passing an ultrasound probe over your body, deep tissues are stimulated by the vibration of the sound wave may. This leads to warming and increased blood flow to these tissues and to break up adhesions and calcium deposits.

Electrical Stimulation ( TENS ), is a therapy that passes an electrical current to an affected area. Nerve conduction within the region is altered, which can in turn alter muscle contractility. Blood flow to these tissues is also increased with electrical stimulation. Patients often experience diminished pain after this electrical stimulation of treatment

Ice, useful in cooling off muscles. In addition, these methods can stimulate blood flow and decrease swelling and spsme. These can be important aspects of the therapeutic process. Your physical therapist may apply an ice pack or massage you with an ice cup.