| If you have been battling a painful, stiff shoulder for | | | | quality of life, save money, time, and possibly |
| any length of time you may have resorted to | | | | relationships (yes, chronic pain can affect the quality of |
| treatment measures outside of logical thinking to | | | | relationships to a spouse, employer, or significant other). |
| relieve your pain. I've had patients tell me they have | | | | The important factor here, as is with any treatment, is |
| used everything from mustard poultices to lubricants | | | | that the "exercise" is part of a well designed, |
| made for car parts in attempt to cure frozen shoulder | | | | evidence-based program aimed specifically at treating |
| pain. As long as their method is not directly harmful to | | | | frozen shoulder. Conversely a poorly designed |
| them I do not try to argue them down because 1) If | | | | program can adversely affect or prolong the stiffness |
| they believe it is working I will not succeed in changing | | | | and pain associated with a frozen shoulder. |
| their mind, and 2) the person will likely be more | | | | There are numerous exercises, tips, and "cures" |
| receptive to my clinical treatment if I am not | | | | floating around the internet that promise to relieve or |
| argumentative to their beliefs. | | | | cure a frozen shoulder, but each individual must be |
| However, this is not an article on patient psychology, | | | | aware that every person is unique in their presentation |
| but the above leads me to answer the question "will | | | | and simply performing some exercises they have |
| exercise cure a frozen shoulder?". | | | | found on a website will often leave the individual |
| Research shows that most cases of frozen shoulder | | | | frustrated because of lack of progress. |
| are "self-limiting" or resolved within 2 years of onset no | | | | Quality information regarding the treatment of frozen |
| matter the course of treatment. That's fine, but who | | | | shoulder pain can be found on the internet with proper |
| wants to live with an arm that is 50% useful at best if | | | | and diligent research, however a more efficient path to |
| they can do something NOW to increase function and | | | | treatment of a frozen shoulder my be through "paid" |
| range of motion? Therefore while some view that | | | | programs as these are often "complete" treatments |
| exercise itself cannot cure frozen shoulder, the | | | | which include methods for immediate pain reduction as |
| increased range of motion, increased function and | | | | well as proven and tested strategies and exercises to |
| decreased pain it provides can improve an individual's | | | | regain normal use and function. |