Frozen Shoulder Adhesive Capsulitis Physical Therapy

Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder, is a condition characterized by pain and stiffness in the shoulder due to inflammation, often severe enough to seriously limit mobility. Although painful, there is a variety of ways to treat the condition, including physical therapy, which is often used in conjunction with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications.

Physical Therapy

• Physical therapy for treating adhesive capsulitis is used to alleviate pain and retain mobility and regain the mobility that was lost. In addition, not only does it help prevent the shoulder from "freezing," it aids in the breakup of scar tissue that may have formed or is in the process of forming. Depending on the severity of the inflammation, the exercises performed may be incredibly painful, but are necessary to increase mobility and prevent the condition from recurring once healed. Discuss with your doctor or physical therapist which exercises are best for you, as each case is different.

Types of Exercises

• According to familydoctor.org, there are three effective exercises you can perform to treat adhesive capsulitis. These include:

  The Codman exercise, which is performed by sitting in a stiff chair sideways with your armpit resting atop the back of the chair. Stretch the arm out and start swinging it in a circular motion, starting with smaller circles and making them progressively larger. Do this both clockwise and counterclockwise.

  Reaching, which is a basic stretch done every day. It stretches the shoulder out in a safe way and can be accomplished without thinking about it, such as through reaching for your shoes or reaching across the table to grab the salt.

  Climbing the wall, which involves placing your palm flat against the wall and make your arm climb up it using your fingers. Every few inches you should stop for about 30 seconds to allow the shoulder to stretch safely. Go as high up the wall as you can within your individual threshold for pain.

Considerations

• Whatever types of exercises you and your doctor come up with, it is always best to warm up for five to 10 minutes with light stretches to prevent exacerbating the injury. The therapy needs to be done daily, and can be followed with over-the-counter pain medications and warm compresses to help alleviate inflammation. Even though adhesive capsulitis can heal on its own, adhering to the physical therapy regimen set forth by your physical therapist or doctor, and treating the pain safely can expedite the process considerably.