If you have frozen shoulder, you know how painful and frustrating it can be. Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that causes stiffness and limited movement in your shoulder joint. It can affect your daily activities, your sleep quality, and your mood.
Fortunately, there are ways to treat frozen shoulder and speed up your recovery. One of them is massage therapy. Massage therapy is a natural and effective way to reduce pain, improve mobility, and enhance healing in your shoulder joint.
In this blog post, we will explain what causes frozen shoulder, how massage therapy works for frozen shoulder, and what types of massage therapy are best for frozen shoulder. We will also give you some tips on how to find a qualified massage therapist and what to expect from a massage therapy session.
What Causes Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder occurs when the capsule of connective tissue that surrounds your shoulder joint becomes inflamed and thickened. This restricts the movement and range of motion of your shoulder joint. The exact cause of frozen shoulder is not clear, but it may be related to:
Age: Frozen shoulder is more common in people over 40 years old.
Gender: Frozen shoulder is more common in women than in men.
Medical conditions: Frozen shoulder is more common in people with diabetes, thyroid disorders, or previous shoulder injuries.
Immobility: Frozen shoulder may develop after a period of prolonged immobility of the shoulder joint due to injury, surgery, or illness.
The symptoms of frozen shoulder usually develop gradually and can last for months or years. There are three stages of frozen shoulder:
Freezing stage: Your shoulder becomes increasingly painful and stiff, especially at night or when trying to reach overhead or behind your back. This stage can last from six weeks to nine months.
Frozen stage: Your pain may decrease, but your stiffness remains or worsens. Your shoulder becomes very difficult to move and perform daily activities. This stage can last from four to six months.
Thawing stage: Your shoulder gradually regains some of its mobility and function. Your pain and stiffness may improve over time. This stage can last from six months to two years.
How Does Massage Therapy Work for Frozen Shoulder?
Massage therapy is a practice that involves applying pressure, friction, vibration, or movement to the soft tissues of your body to promote relaxation and well-being. Massage therapy can help you recover from frozen shoulder by:
Reducing pain and inflammation: Massage therapy can stimulate the release of endorphins, natural painkillers that block pain signals in the brain. Massage therapy can also reduce inflammation by increasing blood flow and lymphatic drainage in the affected area.
Improving range of motion and flexibility: Massage therapy can help loosen up the tight muscles and tendons that restrict the movement of your shoulder joint. Massage therapy can also improve the elasticity and mobility of the connective tissue that surrounds your shoulder joint.
Enhancing healing and recovery: Massage therapy can support the healing process by improving blood circulation and oxygen delivery to the injured tissues. Massage therapy can also prevent or reduce scar tissue formation that can cause stiffness and adhesions in your shoulder joint.
Relieving stress and anxiety: Massage therapy can induce a relaxation response that lowers stress hormones and blood pressure. Massage therapy can also improve your mood and mental state by increasing serotonin and dopamine levels in your brain.
What Types of Massage Therapy Are Best for Frozen Shoulder?
There are many types of massage therapy available, but not all of them are suitable for frozen shoulder. Some of the best types of massage therapy for frozen shoulder are:
Swedish massage: This is a gentle type of massage that uses long strokes, kneading, tapping, friction, and vibration to relax the muscles and improve blood circulation.
Deep tissue massage: This is a more intense type of massage that uses firm pressure, slow strokes, and deep finger pressure to reach deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. This type of massage can help break up scar tissue and adhesions that cause pain and stiffness in your shoulder joint.
Trigger point massage: This is a type of massage that focuses on specific points in the muscles that are tender or tight due to stress or injury. These points are called trigger points because they can trigger pain or discomfort in other parts of the body. Applying pressure to these points can help release tension and relieve pain in your shoulder joint.
Myofascial release: This is a type of massage that targets the fascia, the thin layer of connective tissue that covers and connects all the muscles and organs in your body. The fascia can become tight or restricted due to injury, inflammation, or immobility. This type of massage uses gentle kneading to release connective tissues around the shoulder girdle.
If you suffer from frozen shoulder, don't hesitate to book a massage today. Tranquil Escape Massage service local Dalton, GA. Book online at www.tranquilescapemassage.com
Comments