Shoulder Pain and Frozen Shoulder 

Pain and stiffness in the shoulder preventing a full range of movement is a common occurrence, particularly for the middle-aged. It affects around 5% of people and is more common in women.

Frozen Shoulder Syndrome is an extremely painful and debilitating condition characterized by pain and stiffness of the shoulder. It lasts typcially for 2 and a half years.

Without treatment it typically has three clincial phases: There are three phases to frozen shoulder: Freezing (1-8 months), Frozen (9-16 months), Thawing (12-40 months).

Common Causes

• Sedentary working environments
• Poor posture maintained for long periods of time. Common examples are driving and operating machinery or computers
• The condition can be caused by tendonitis - i.e., inflammation - of one of the four tendons in the shoulder joint

Treatments

• Osteopathic treatment is frequently successful with this condition, with techniques often focussing not just on the shoulder, but also on the spine and ribcage.
• Surgery is sometimes required, but not before fully investigating options for osteopathic treatment

An important osteopathic technique for treating Frozen Shoulder has been developed in the UK by Simeon Neil-Asher who treats patients at a Highgate clinic in London Back into Shape North.

The content of this page is informed by feedback from osteopathic practitioners in Kent and also a practitioner in Leeds. Further input was received from practices in Luton and clinics in Southampton. Finally a contribution was made by osteopaths in the Hove area