Can it be treated? What can physiotherapy do for a frozen shoulder?
Physiotherapy treatment for a frozen shoulder involves pain relief, exercises to improve range of motion, and also deep massage and mobilisation of the joint to encourage movement. Physiotherapists are also proficient at assessing shoulders, and might find that your shoulder does not really have a frozen shoulder at all. There are a whole range of other conditions that can cause a restriction of movement and pain, and accurate diagnosis can lead to effective treatment. There are other techniques such as surgery to remove scar tissue and structures that may restrict movement. Also hydrodialation is useful, where an injection of fluid goes straight into the shoulder joint, trying to expand the capsule from the inside. From what I have heard, my patients have told me that it is very very painful. Physiotherapy has been found to work well along with medical procedures.
