Physical Therapy Can Help Frozen Shoulders!
Find Relief This Summer.
Do you notice pain and stiffness in your shoulder? Has your shoulder suddenly become very hard to move? You may be experiencing a frozen shoulder and will benefit from having a physical therapist help you resolve your problem.
At Soleil Physical Therapy, our physical therapists are skilled at alleviating pain and restoring motion so you can get back to doing what you love!
Many different factors can lead to chronic shoulder pain. One of the most painful and debilitating conditions is a frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis. Dealing with shoulder pain can make completing daily tasks nearly impossible. Often people sacrifice their quality of life due to the pain and limitations.
Adhesive capsulitis is a condition characterized by stiffness and pain in your shoulder joint. Signs and symptoms typically begin gradually without a specific cause and worsen over time. Physical therapy can help relieve and even eliminate your problem! If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, contact Soleil Physical Therapy today. Our physical therapists will be able to do a full assessment, figure out if the source of your pain is a frozen shoulder, and help you get on the road to recovery.
Our Patients Get Great Results
“I went in for an issue with my knees (and walking), which had persisted for many many years. The staff at Soleil were very nice– they’re all welcoming and friendly, and the place is also quiet and calm. My therapist, Qui, was great. He always began the sessions by asking if I had any questions and was happy to answer them. Qui has a positive, friendly and kind attitude, and he regularly checked in to make sure I was comfortable during the exercises. He was honest about my situation and never promised any unrealistic results. But on the bright side, he was incredibly motivating and recommended exercises to help with my issue. I did notice an improvement in my walk. Overall, my experience at Soleil was a pleasant one.” – A.S.
What is a frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder is a condition that develops when the tissue in your shoulder joint tightens and restricts movement. It is thought to be caused by inactivity that occurs after injury or alongside another shoulder problem, such as a rotator cuff injury, broken arm, or recovering from surgery.
The exact causes of a frozen shoulder are not fully understood. A few factors that may put you more at risk for developing a frozen shoulder include:
- Diabetes
- Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cardiac disease
Most people struggling with frozen shoulders complain of pain, discomfort when moving or using the affected joint, or even a total loss of movement in that shoulder. Adhesions from the shoulder can become stiff or inflamed. Fortunately, physical therapy has been shown to help alleviate pain and mobility losses.
What to expect with physical therapy
At your consultation, one of our physical therapists here at Soleil Physical Therapy will assess your condition, pinpoint the exact source of your pain, take a look at your medical history, and evaluate your mobility and strength.
There are three stages in the development of frozen shoulders:
- Freezing: In this stage, you gradually experience more and more pain. As the pain worsens, you start to lose range of motion.
- Frozen: This stage is characterized by motion loss, whereas the painful symptoms may improve. Daily activities are typically challenging during this phase.
- Thawing: Shoulder motion improves during this stage, and there is typically a complete return to normal or close to normal motion and strength.
It’s pretty standard for patients to see our physical therapists in the freezing stage after they’ve already been experiencing pain for a little over half a year or nine months. At this point, they’re already in a lot of pain and pretty used to not being able to move their shoulders the way they’d like to.
Our comprehensive treatment plan will consist of targeted stretches and specific home exercises to speed up the recovery process and regain your motion, reduce your pain and restore any lost strength.
Physical therapy for frozen shoulders focuses primarily on pain relief, using modalities like ultrasound, e-stim, and lasers. In addition, we take a hands-on approach using targeted manual therapy techniques like soft tissue work and joint mobilizations. Your physical therapist’s ultimate goal is to restore mobility and range of motion to the affected shoulder. The quicker we can address your pain symptoms and range of motion deficits, the sooner you get back to doing what you love!
Contact Soleil Physical Therapy today!
If you have been experiencing recurrent or chronic shoulder pain, it is essential to consult with a physical therapist as soon as possible to find out if your problem is a frozen shoulder. Physical therapy is a safe and natural treatment option that can successfully help patients of all ages recover from their shoulder injuries. Call Soleil Physical Therapy today to learn more about the benefits of physical therapy for shoulder pain, and begin your journey toward living a pain-free life!
Meet Our Team
Dave Bacani
PT, DPT, MSPT, MTC, Cert. DN Clinical Director
Ron Maciel
B.S., PTA
Wernjane Yue
MS, MAOM, Licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist
Summer Garden Pasta
Ingredients:
- 8 oz (226 g) linguine pasta or preferred noodle pasta, uncooked
- ¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup (110 g) finely chopped onion sweet, yellow, or white onion
- 6 large cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 24 oz (680 g) cherry tomatoes about 6 cups
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon table salt plus additional for cooking pasta and to taste/as needed
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ heaping teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 oz (28 g) fresh basil leaves shredded or cut into ribbons (about ⅓ cup)
- ⅓ cup freshly grated or shredded parmesan cheese plus more for topping
Directions:
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Cook pasta in well-salted water according to package instructions. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of pasta water and set aside.
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Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat until shimmering.
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Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, then add garlic and cook about 30-60 seconds longer, until fragrant.
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Add tomatoes, sugar, salt, pepper, thyme, and red pepper and cook, stirring frequently until tomatoes soften and burst. Once tomatoes are soft enough you can use a wooden spoon or spatula to squish them as you stir.
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Add basil and stir.
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Add warm cooked, drained linguine and stir well. Add splashes of pasta water as needed to make a thin sauce, you basically want to ensure the pasta is not dry and the noodles are coated with a thin layer of the sauce. I typically need to add about ¼ cup of the pasta water.
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Remove from heat, add parmesan and stir well. Taste-test and add additional salt or pepper as needed, then serve warm topped with additional parmesan as desired with a side salad or side of crusty bread.