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Physical Therapy Treatment of Shoulder Capsulitis

Shoulder capsulitis or "frozen shoulder" presents as limited or loss of movement in the shoulder joint. The frozen shoulder can have various causes and typically arises after shoulder injury. A number of treatments help the shoulder regain movement, most notably, physical therapy.

  1. Frozen Shoulder and Its Causes

    • Frozen shoulder arises from tissue scarring or thickening of the tissue capsule that surrounds the shoulder joint. It tends to be more common in diabetic patients or with individuals with chronic arthritis. Individuals who do not have consistent use of the shoulder may be more susceptible to a frozen shoulder, and the condition can be more common in patients who have undergone surgery that incapacitates the shoulder area. Surgeries in the chest area may cause frozen shoulder as well.

    Treatment

    • Doctors typically treat shoulder capsulitis in several ways. Often treatment is a combination of drug and physical therapy. Doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs like cortisone. Some doctors may use ultrasound treatment to help treat the capsule tissue surrounding the shoulder. Once the inflammation is lessened, doctors may encourage the patient to begin physical therapy.

    Physical Therapy Specifics

    • Physical therapy for patients with frozen shoulders tends to take a significant amount of time, and should continue even after you regain movement in your shoulder. It can take up to three months to regain movement in the shoulder, and you may not regain your full range of motion.

      According to Familydoctor.org, three exercises assist with physical therapy. One exercise, called climbing the wall, entails putting your hand flat against the wall and "climbing" the wall with your fingers like a spider. Make sure to pause, stopping your fingers in place for about 30 seconds as you move up the wall. Try to go higher and higher with each exercise.

      The Codman exercise involves sitting sideways on a chair. With your armpit resting on top of the chair, slowly swing your arm in circles, increasing the circle size with each rotation. Reaching, force your body to reach for things that are above your head. You should do these exercises a couple times a day, even after you notice the inflammation and pain subsiding. Avoid sudden, jerky movements as these could re-injure your shoulder.

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