Frozen shoulder, also known as Adhesive Capsulitis, is a condition that can creep up on you or appear without warning. I remember one client of mine from many years ago who had been putting dishes away in a cupboard over her sink when it struck and left her unable to raise her arm. In fact, many times there is no apparent reason for it at all.
In other instances it can occur after an accident such as a bad fall, or a motor vehicle accident. Arthritis may be the underlying cause for others. When the shoulder has been immobilized in a cast or a splint, the joint may 'seize up' afterwards. Pain is usually felt on the outside part of the upper arm and is dull, but sharp when you try to move the shoulder. In the early stages, it may be painful at night, especially when you are lying on the affected side.
Movement is restricted. Usually most difficult is rotating your shoulder outward. Imagine you have something in your hand you want to pass to someone beside you. Ordinarily, you would just turn your arm and hand it over. With Frozen Shoulder, this movement is extremely difficult. The two other movements most affected are the ability to lift your arm to the side and to raise it to the front. Reaching across your body, behind you or turning your arm in toward you are usually unaffected.
Traditional treatment often involves physiotherapy, also called physical therapy, and most clients whom I have seen have been told by their MD's that it might take up to eighteen months to recover. Some have had drugs prescribed for the pain, and in some instances they've had muscle relaxants.
The first steps in massage, at least in my clinic, involves having the person lie on my table face down at first while I assess the tissues around the shoulder. I feel for tension in the muscles and tendons, trigger points and anything out of the ordinary. The next thing I do is to find out just how restricted the movement is by taking the shoulder through its paces. I make sure the person is not trying to move the arm so I can feel where it is catching, and I ask for feedback as I go. I make a note of how far it moves before it starts to hurt.
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