Frozen Shoulder Manipulation
Does manipulation for frozen shoulder work?
Manipulation as a treatment for shoulder pain has been around for a long time. The word manipulation can be applied in several different ways.
When we think of shoulder pain in general then physiotherapists will use mobilisation or hands on type manipulation of the shoulder as a means of improving movement range in the joint and thus reducing the symptoms. Osteopaths or chiropractors will do much the same thing - and you might often find that your neck or back is treated at the same time. Not a bad idea actually since shoulder pain and neck pain or upper back pain often go hand in hand.
Manipulation for frozen shoulder is a slightly different issue however. Historically this has been a technique used when the patient is deeply asleep under a general anesthetic and the procedure is performed in an operating theater.
We know that frozen shoulder creates sticky adhesions inside the joint and we think that its these sticky areas that lead to the loss of movement. Manipulation of the shoulder under general anesthetic is a way of trying to force these adhesions apart - thus releasing the stuck shoulder and improving both pain and movement. This type of frozen shoulder manipulation seems to work but it's a very powerful - almost brutal technique - and there have been several reports in the past of arm bone fractures and other problems.
More modern (and more gentle) approaches include using keyhole surgery to break up the sticky adhesions.
Manipulation as a treatment for shoulder pain has been around for a long time. The word manipulation can be applied in several different ways.
When we think of shoulder pain in general then physiotherapists will use mobilisation or hands on type manipulation of the shoulder as a means of improving movement range in the joint and thus reducing the symptoms. Osteopaths or chiropractors will do much the same thing - and you might often find that your neck or back is treated at the same time. Not a bad idea actually since shoulder pain and neck pain or upper back pain often go hand in hand.
Manipulation for frozen shoulder is a slightly different issue however. Historically this has been a technique used when the patient is deeply asleep under a general anesthetic and the procedure is performed in an operating theater.
We know that frozen shoulder creates sticky adhesions inside the joint and we think that its these sticky areas that lead to the loss of movement. Manipulation of the shoulder under general anesthetic is a way of trying to force these adhesions apart - thus releasing the stuck shoulder and improving both pain and movement. This type of frozen shoulder manipulation seems to work but it's a very powerful - almost brutal technique - and there have been several reports in the past of arm bone fractures and other problems.
More modern (and more gentle) approaches include using keyhole surgery to break up the sticky adhesions.
Labels: cause of frozen shoulder, frozen shoulder manipulation, manipulation of the shoulder, shoulder injury, shoulder pain
