Frozen Shoulder Exercises aim to reduce pain, increase the extensibility of the capsule, and improve the strength of the rotator cuff muscles. It also improves the mobility of the shoulder and strength of the muscle. However, it may be remembered that strengthening of muscle is secondary to mobilisation. Increasing mobility of shoulder can be done by freehand exercises, self-mobilising techniques and passive mobilisation which can be done by a physiotherapist or chiropractitioner.
Mobilisation can be done by using three methods:
1. Heating: Though prior heating of the joint has been found to facilitate relaxation and mobilisation, one may use the heating modality suitable to the patient's response like a hot pad, moist heat, swd etc. However ultrasound, besides deep heating, has the added advantages of increased excitability of the contracted soft tissue.
2. Passive mobilisation: The physiotherapist grasping the arm above the shoulder joint carries out relaxed passive gliding movement of the head of the humerus on glenoid. Axial traction and approximation is carried out along with anteroposterior glide and abduction-adduction glide. Mobilisation by accessory movements of acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular and/or scapulothoracic joint articulation is also extremely helpful.
3. Shoulder exercises: Initially we focus on forwarding flexion and internal and external rotation with the arm at the side, and the elbow at 90 degrees.
Active ROM exercises.
Active assisted ROM exercises.
At home, these Frozen Shoulder Exercises should be performed 3-5 times per day. A sustained stretch, of 15-30 seconds, at the end ROMs, should be part of all ROM routines.
Most of these exercises I have demonstrated in the video. if done correctly will bring immense improvement in the condition.So exercise as much as possible and do let me know how you felt after the exercise. Make sure you do these exercises atleast for a month followed by shoulder and upper back strengthening exercises.