Frozen Shoulder Treatment
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitus, is a painfully debilitating condition that causes restriction of movement in the shoulder joint.
The swelling and stiffness makes everyday activities increasingly difficult and gradually worsens over time. A frozen shoulder can affect your ability to sleep, dress, brush your hair and in some severe cases can also limit your ability to drive.
This condition causes the shoulder joint capsule to contract and form scar tissue, preventing the shoulder from moving freely in the socket.
Frozen shoulder typically affects those between 40 and 60 and is twice as likely to develop in women than in men.
Frozen shoulder is more prevalent in people with diabetes and it can last longer for those with this condition.
When injury or surgery are followed by periods of immobilisation such as supporting the shoulder in a sling, the risk of developing a frozen shoulder increase.
Frozen shoulder is a self limiting condition meaning that the pain will eventually decrease and movement will be restored naturally over time. However, it can last for years often with some residual restrictions in range of motion.
Treatment - The Niel-Asher Technique
I am a certified Niel-Asher practitioner. The treatment is a natural, “hands on” method which taps into the body’s innate healing abilities.
Treatment involves the neuromuscular technique of trigger point therapy combined with a sequence of stretching and specific manipulations to the shoulder joint and soft tissues.
The sequence is the same for all cases with some modifications according to presenting symptoms and stage within the course of treatment. The technique addresses the two main problems of frozen shoulder– pain and stiffness
The Niel-Asher technique can also be used and adapted to treat rotator cuff problems.
The coordinated sequence of manipulations to deep sensory receptors and trigger points embedded in the shoulder muscles stimulate damaged tissue to send proprioceptive signals to the brain, thereby creating new neurological pathways at the level of the spinal cord and sensory cortex in the brain.
This stimulation of sensory pathways re-programs and re-establishes the correct relationship between the brain and the shoulder.
The technique relies on precise repetition in order to reinforce the “re-learning” towards normal responses and movement patterns. This in turn reduces pain, and increases range of motion, strength and power.