ManualEdgePT | Physical Therapy Can Help Frozen Shoulders

ManualEdgePT | Physical Therapy Can Help Frozen Shoulders

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IT’S NOT JUST PRODUCE IN YOUR GROCERY BAG !

When we treat a patient’s abdomen, they often think we are treating the stomach muscles, even when we tell them we are treating organs like the stomach, liver, kidney, intestines, etc. Most people have a hard time understanding exactly what we are doing so I thought I would attempt to describe it here. The best way to think about your abdomen is like a paper grocery bag. The grocery bag, like your abdomen, is a container to carry around items like our organs. To take it a step further, picture yourself going to your local grocery store and purchasing an apple, onion, pepper, cucumber, peach, head of lettuce, and an eggplant; and then putting each of them in their own flimsy plastic bag that you find in the produce section of the store. Then when you check out, you put each plastic bag containing the items in the paper grocery bag of the abdomen. In this example, each piece of fruit or vegetable is an organ in its own bag of connective tissue. Now the organs/fruits/vegetables that are in their own plastic bags are attached to each other inside the grocery bag of the abdomen; but they can shift and move around on each other quite a lot in a normal situation. In addition, some of the plastic bags of the organs/fruits/vegetables are actually attached to the inside of the paper grocery bag. This happens

at the back of the grocery bag/abdomen which is actually the front of the spine. When you have back pain, pelvic pain, abdominal pain, digestive problems, hiatal hernia etc, part of the problemmay be tightness and restriction of these plastic bags inside the paper grocery bag of your abdomen. Tightness and restriction of these plastic bags containing your organs can happen from infection, digestive problems, injury, and surgery such that they don’t move on each other very well. It can also be that the plastic bags are actually pulling and causing tightness and restriction on the inside of the paper grocery bag, that is the front of the spine, causing back or pelvic pain. So, whenwe are treating your abdomen, think about the plastic bags that hold your apples, onions, peppers and cucumbers. We aremoving and releasing your organs so that your grocery bag works well and doesn’t cause you back and pelvic pain. Tim Bonack

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WE CAN HELP FROZEN SHOULDERS!

It’s not uncommon for our clinic to see patients struggling with chronic shoulder pain. Often, we find that these patients are having to sacrifice their quality of life and have finally gotten fed up. There are many different factors that attribute to chronic shoulder pain, including a common condition known as frozen shoulder. Dealing with shoulder pain can make completing daily tasks nearly impossible without treatment. Physical therapy can help relieve (or even eliminate) your problem! If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, contact our office today. Our physical therapists will be able to do a full assessment, figure out if the source of your pain is frozen shoulder, and help you get on the road to recovery. What Is Frozen Shoulder? Frozen shoulder, or “adhesive capsulitis” is a condition caused by inactivity that occurs after injury or alongside another shoulder problem. When scar tissue forms after a period of physical inactivity, the shoulder can become stiff or inflamed. Most people struggling with frozen shoulders complain of pain, discomfort when moving or using the affected joint, or even a total loss of movement in that shoulder.

Exactly what causes frozen shoulder remains somewhat of a mystery condition to many doctors and physical therapists, but a

few possible causes are as follows: • Results from a surgery or injury.

• Underlying conditions such as bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, a rotator cuff tear, or any other condition causing a person to cease shoulder movement • Immobilization of the arm, such as in a sling, after surgery or fracture Overall, having a limited range of motion can cause you to develop a frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulders can also be the result of remaining bedridden, unable to get up and move around for a long time. Most physical therapists recommend that patients with frozen shoulders rest often in between physical therapy appointments to avoid developing scar tissue in the shoulder. On the chance that scar tissue does develop, the muscles surrounding the shoulder may eventually freeze up as well. If you are interested in coming back to physical therapy, or have any questions about how direct access works, our physical therapists would be more than happy to meet with you for a consultation to discuss how they can help. Call us today to talk to an expert about how we can help you recover!

Call Today 719-694-8342

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HOW IS FROZEN SHOULDER DIAGNOSED?

There are four stages in the development of frozen shoulders: prefreezing, freezing, frozen, and thawing. It’s pretty common for patients to see our physical therapists in the freezing stage after they’ve already been experiencing pain for a little over half a year, or 9 months. At this point they’re already in a lot of pain and pretty used to not being able to move their shoulder the way they’d like to! At your consultation, one of our physical therapists here at Manual Edge Physiotherapy will assess your condition, pinpoint the exact source of your pain, take a look at your medical history, and evaluate your strength and mobility levels. He or she will also consider any other conditions that could be contributing to your pain, such as diabetes, an autoimmune disorder, or a thyroid disorder. From there a comprehensive treatment plan will be created just for you. It will most likely consist of targeted stretches, exercises, and best practices for you to regain strength and decrease stiffness and pain. What Kind of Physical Therapy Treatment Will Help? Physical therapy for frozen shoulders focuses primarily on pain relief, using manual therapy, modalities, exercises, and at-home treatments. Your physical therapist’s ultimate goal is to restore

mobility and range of motion to the affected shoulder. He or she will teach you how to relieve pain with stretching techniques and strengthening exercises, most of which you’ll be able to complete at home to speed up the recovery progress. At the moment there isn’t very much we can do to prevent the development of frozen shoulder, however, the sooner you contact our office for an evaluation, the quicker we can address your pain

symptoms and create your treatment plan! Contact Manual Edge Physiotherapy today!

If you have been experiencing recurrent or chronic shoulder pain, it is important to consult with a physical therapist as soon as possible to find out if your problem is a frozen shoulder. Physical therapy is a safe and natural treatment option that can successfully help patients of all ages recover from their shoulder injuries. There’s no reason you need to risk the harmful effects of over-the- counter medication or spend a ton of money on an expensive surgery to gain relief from shoulder pain. Call Manual Edge Physiotherapy today to learn more about the benefits of physical therapy for shoulder pain, and begin your journey toward living a pain-free life!

Source: https://www.choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-frozen-shoulder-adhesive-capsulitis

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EXERCISE ESSENTIAL

Yummy Seasonal Recipe

Helps With Tightness In The Neck & Shoulders

LEFTOVER TURKEY SALAD

www.simpleset.net

INGREDIENTS: • 1 cup leftover bread stuffing • 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • ¼ cup leftover cranberry sauce • 1 tbsp cider vinegar • 1 tsp grated orange zest

• ¼ tsp salt • ¼ tsp ground pepper • 8 cups mixed salad greens • 2¼ cups chopped leftover turkey • 1 cup leftover roasted vegetables • 3 tbsp dried cranberries

FOUR POINT + ARM RAISE Start on hands and knees, hips and shoulders at 90°. Lift one arm out front. Bring it back down and then repeat on opposite side. 8-10 times on both arms.

DIRECTIONS: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add stuffing and cook, stirring, until crisp, 8 to 11 minutes. Set aside. Whisk cranberry sauce, remaining 3 tablespoons oil, vinegar, orange zest, salt and pepper together in a large bowl. Add greens, turkey and roasted vegetables; toss to coat. Sprinkle with the stuffing croutons and dried cranberries.

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SHOULDER PAIN

HOLIDAY SURVIVAL

Manual Edge Physiotherapy offers the most effective techniques for rel ief from Shoulder Pain! To learn more about how we can help you, visit www.manualedge.com

Tis the season to be jolly... but for many who have struggled with weight loss the holidays can put a damper on the most wonderful time of the year. Surrounded by traditional favorites, baked breads, rich desserts and decadent cocktails, one can almost visualize the numbers on the scale heading in the wrong direction. Fear not and RSVP yes to your festive engagements by arming yourself with these helpful tips: • Eat before you go. As silly, as this may sound, the best way to arrive at your function and be able to pass on high calorie and high fat hors d’oeuvres is to not be plagued with hunger pangs. In addition, you will be able to make healthier food choices placing more emphasis on salads, protein and vegetables. • Avoid high sugar spirits like daiquiris, coladas andmargaritas. With just two of these types of cocktails, you could consume half of your days’ worth of calories. Instead, choose light beer, red wines like pinot noir or chianti, white wines like pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc or mixed vodka club drinks with a splash of juice. Since alcohol dehydrates the body which can lead to extra snacking, be sure to drink plenty of water in between. • You can’t have your fruitcake and eat it too. Holiday desserts can be rich in sugar , fat and calories which can really pack on the pounds especially if coupled with a high carbohydrate dinner. Try chewing on gum or sipping on a flavored herb tea to help squelch the desire to sample a little bit of everything. But if you must indulge, choose a reasonable portion of one of your favorites or two half portion sized desserts. • Calories in, calories out. If you are going to indulge you must exercise. Exercising an hour a day, or 30minutes at high intensity, 5 times a week will help keep your clothes fitting nicely. • 80/20 rule. Stick with a low carbohydrate diet throughout the season with plenty of protein, vegetables and healthy fats. No need to add any extra rice, pasta, cereal or bread to breakfast and lunchmeals. This will allow you to partake in some decadent foods a few times a week without adding the average 5-7 pounds of holiday weight gain.

CLINIC UPDATE

Welcome Felicia Mohr PT, DPT

Felicia recently joined Manual Edge in our expanding Women’s Health program. She is an Air Force Academy grad, has a master’s degree from Harvard, and graduated from Regis University with her DPT in 2010. She is recently retired from the Air Force Reserve as a lieutenant colonel. She is married and has 2 young daughters. Training More PTs In Cranial Mobilization

Tim taught a Cranial Mobilization Level III class in October. More PTs are getting trained in this approach and more advanced classes will be coming soon.

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