Orthopedic   Massage

Frozen Shoulder & Neck Pain

In a frozen shoulder soft tissue injury, the major muscles are called the SITS Muscles-Subscapularis, Infraspinatus, Teres Major and Supraspinatus. Often injuries to this area are referred to as Rotator Cuff injuries. To obtain healing of the shoulder, these muscles need to be released.

Most of the frozen shoulder clients that I see are told it may take up to two years for healing to take place. That isn't necessarily true. I have had very good success in relieving the pain and increasing ROM. This is an alternative that works on soft tissue injuries.

What will the massage therapy involve?

In order to release, several things have to happen:

1. The client has to feel safe. Most frozen shoulders are very painful injuries to mostly women 45 to 60 years old. Often there is a psychological component along with the physiological. As a massage therapist, I am not equipped to be a psychotherapist, but I can make the client aware that this could be a part of the problem.
2. In order for the client to feel safe, I can not inflict pain. What I try to do is work slowly and be in constant communication with the client about how they are feeling. Slowly, confidence will build between us.
3. By addressing the discomfort as I work and releasing the sore area(s), I will be moving from one muscle of the shoulder to another in a pain free "dance," thus building trust with the client.
4. All of this has to be PAIN FREE. Not that there will not be discomfort, but there should not be flinching pain.
5. Gradually, as the muscles release, Range of Motion (ROM) will be increased.