Helping Frozen Shoulders .. 12-01

In addition to active motion by the patient, and passive motion by 
the doc, I have found that most frozen shoulders (which by the way 
are very painful to treat) respond to continued care after about 30 
days. 

The doc should make at least three adjustments to the shoulder:
1. Pt Prone. Stabilize scapular, med. thrust pulling backward on the 
shoulder joint.
2. Pt Prone. Stabilize scapular, P-A med. thrust on post. portion of 
humeral head
3. Pt prone or sitting. Grasp shoulder joint with both hands, traction
laterally outward then light pulling thrust.

Follow this with as much passive range of motion as the patient can
tolerate, especially circular motion. 

Iontophoresis applied with Potassium Iodide (5-10% solution) on the
application (-) pad, water on the dispersal (+) pad for 5-10 minutes.

Ice the shoulder right after the treatment and then have the patient
follow with at least 15 minutes per hour for the next 4 hours.

Exercises at home:

Use 3-5 pound weight. (I like to have them use a dish soap bottle 
filled with water. Preferably with a handle)
Support healthy arm on chair and lean over holding weight in arm 
with frozen shoulder. 
Swing the arm left-right, forward-backward and in circles for at 
least 5 minutes twice daily.
This places traction on the joint while giving motion, thus breaking 
up the scarifications.

If you are going to get the shoulder to release, this program, applied 
at least 3xwk/2 wks & 2xwk/2wks should get the joint moving and 
reduce the pain expressions. If after 30 days there is minimal or no 
change, they are most likely a surgical candidate.

Hope all this helps.
Dr. Kenneth Martin
Temple City, CA
www.bacdoc.web.com