A frozen shoulder is also known as adhesive capsulitis, a medical condition of the shoulder capsule that affects millions of people worldwide. The joint of the shoulder is surrounded by connective tissues, which become stiff and inflamed causing chronic pain. Curing this frustrating pain is necessary but long and difficult.
Deep tissue massage is a promising solution to cure the frozen shoulder and ease your pain easily. With the treatment, this massage also reduces chronic pain and improves mobility. This article will delve into how deep tissue massage can work best and treat your frozen shoulder for stiffness and pain.
Signs of Frozen Shoulder
When the connective tissues around your shoulder joints become stiff and thickened, a frozen shoulder develops. The pain of a frozen shoulder will increase with time and cause your arms to be restricted from rotation and movement above the head, and cause pain. There are three stages of frozen shoulder conditions.
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Freezing Stage
In the freezing stage, pain in your shoulder increases and restricts the movement of your arms and shoulders.
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Frozen Stage
Stiffness increases and movement is restricted, but the pain may decrease or not worsen.
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Thawing Stage
As the pain gets cured, mobility comes back when the shoulder starts healing.
This process takes months to years to heal by itself, but the person may face difficulty in dressing, lifting objects, or moving arms to their back. This is why a deep tissue massage can be beneficial for the treatment of a frozen shoulder [1, 2].
What Causes a Frozen Shoulder?
There is no exact cause of a frozen shoulder, but it may be caused by injury or surgery, or may be caused by age in the 40s to 60s, especially in women [3]. Some diseases may also be the cause of a frozen shoulder, like thyroid disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, and prolonged immobility [4].
What is Deep Tissue Massage?
Deep tissue massage is a firm pressure technique applied to deep layers of muscles and connective tissues to cure chronic pain. This massage therapy addresses pain, stiffness, and injuries deeply to treat them more specifically. Through deep massage therapy, scars and knots are broken, and circulation heals your frozen shoulder effectively [5].
How Does Deep Tissue Massage Help with Frozen Shoulder?
Deep tissue massage therapy works on tissues and muscles deeply to remove stiffness and improve circulation. Let’s take a look at how massage helps with a frozen shoulder:
1.Breaks Down Adhesions
Deep tissue massage therapy breaks down the adhesions and scar tissue that develop in the joints of the shoulders due to a frozen shoulder. With the help of deep-layer muscle massage, stiffness can be reduced and movement can come back [2].
2.Improves Blood Flow and Circulation
Due to the movement restriction, blood flow can also be reduced and slow down the healing process. Deep tissue massage improves blood and nutrient circulation in the whole body and lets them reach the stiff areas. This can speed up the blood flow and reduce healing time [4].
3.Reduces Pain and Muscle Tension
Tension in the muscles and increasing chronic pain can cause a lot of discomfort to people having frozen shoulders. Deep massage therapy releases endorphins that are natural pain killers, which can reduce pain in tissues and muscles around the shoulders and also lower muscle tension.
4. Restores Range of Motion
When you are working with a massage therapist, deep tissue can restore range of motion. With the flexibility of the muscles, tendons, and tissues around the shoulders, they can be cured. This massage is beneficial, especially in the frozen and thawing stage of frozen shoulders.
5. Supports Mental and Emotional Well-Being
Mental health can be disturbed due to chronic pain and immobility. A person faces stress, anxiety, and depression in this condition. A deep tissue massage can not only treat frozen shoulders but also help them relax and heal mentally.
What You Should Expect During a Deep Tissue Massage for a Frozen Shoulder?
When you go to the massage therapist, they will begin the process by assessing your frozen shoulder. Movement and pain level will be checked, along with focusing on the shoulder with surrounding areas like the arm, neck, and upper back, as they are connected throughout the mobility.
As your massage session starts, you may feel some discomfort because of knots breaking [2]. You can communicate to your therapist if you feel too much pressure on your muscles. Remember the goal of the massage is to cure the frozen shoulder, not to worsen it or pain. The number of sessions depends on the condition, but you will feel some change after a few sessions.
Is Deep Tissue Massage Safe for a Frozen Shoulder?
Deep tissue massage therapy is safe for people suffering from a frozen shoulder. But an expert and skilled massage therapist can help you better treat your frozen shoulder. Must ask them to consult a diagnosis to tailor your needs in massage therapy. You can also consult a doctor beforehand if you are recovering from an injury or surgery [6].
Conclusion
You can feel irritated and disturbed if you are facing a frozen shoulder issue. It will take a long time to recover and will be difficult without any treatment. A deep tissue massage will stand out as the best treatment for frozen shoulder.
Deep tissue massage works deeply on muscles and targets the root cause of the frozen shoulder. Expert therapists reduce muscle tension, stiffness, break adhesions, improve circulation, restore movement, and elevate your mental health.
Do you want to unfreeze your frozen shoulder with a professional and skilled therapist? Contact us for a consultation and work with our expert massage therapist for deep tissue massage and to cure your frozen shoulder.
FAQs
- Can a deep tissue massage cure a frozen shoulder completely?
A deep tissue massage is not a magic that will cure a frozen shoulder overnight. It’s a time-consuming process that will depend on the severity of your condition. Massage therapy will break knots and reduce stiffness to improve mobility and unfreeze shoulders.
- How many deep tissue massage sessions will be needed to cure frozen shoulders?
It is recommended to take a full course of deep tissue massage that is 6-12 sessions, but it depends on the severity. Many people feel the difference after 3-5 sessions.
- Do we feel pain after the deep tissue massage therapy?
The beginning of the session may make you uncomfortable because of tight knots breaking. Must communicate with your therapist to discuss your comfort level.
- In how much time can I expect the results of a deep tissue massage?
Complete results may take some weeks of consistent therapy sessions to recover, but some people may feel comfort, ease, and less pain after the first session.
- What are the side effects of a deep tissue massage?
There are no major side effects of deep tissue massage, but you may feel mild soreness for a couple of days. You should not take a massage session if you have active inflammation and blood clots.
References
[2]https://muscletherapybytom.co.uk/massage-therapy-for-frozen-shoulder-what-to-expect-from-treatment/
[3] https://www.elevaterehabilitation.com/blog/massage-for-frozen-shoulder-oakville
[4]https://www.spatheory.com/spa-theory-wellness-beauty-blog/massage-therapy-for-frozen-shoulder
[5]https://littletonmsr.com/deep-tissue-massage-for-shoulder-pain/
[6]https://www.physioflow.ca/how-massage-therapy-can-help-relieve-frozen-shoulder-symptoms/
