Physical therapy for frozen shoulder typically involves using therapeutic modalities and procedures to decrease your pain, and aggressive range of motion (ROM) exercises to help improve your shoulder’s mobility. Your PT should teach you what to expect from treatment for your frozen shoulder, and they should teach you things that you can do to help your condition.
Exercises and movement are essential for the successful treatment of your frozen shoulder. Your physical therapist will have you perform exercises in the PT clinic, and they will likely have you perform specific exercises on your own as part of a home exercise program.
Here is a step-by-step program of exercises to help you get started treating your frozen shoulder. The program starts with passive motion for your shoulder, and it progresses to more intense rotator cuff strengthening exercises. Be sure to check in with your healthcare provider or physical therapist before this, or any other, treatment program for your condition.
Passive ROM for your shoulder is a great way to help improve your shoulder mobility. The only problem with passive ROM: You need another person to help you do the exercises. This helps to keep your shoulder totally relaxed during the ROM exercises. Your PT can perform passive ROM exercises for you while you are in the clinic.
You may use a pulley system to help provide ROM to your shoulder; this is referred to as active-assistive shoulder ROM.
Common directions of motion that you should work on during passive ROM include flexion, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation.
The towel chest stretch or pectoralis stretch should be performed to stretch the front of your shoulder. Be sure to check in with your physical therapist to learn how to safely perform towel stretches for your frozen shoulder.
Active ROM exercises for your shoulder are simple to do at home, and they can be performed several times a day. Perform each exercise in flexion, abduction, and external rotation for 10 to 15 repetitions, two to three times per day.
To perform shoulder isometric exercises, simply press into a wall in specific directions. Hold the pressure for five seconds, and then release. You can perform the isometric exercises for 10 to 15 repetitions, two to three times a day.
To do the exercises, perform the prone row and the prone “I, T, and Y” exercises for 10 to 15 repetitions. Be sure to check in with your PT to ensure you are doing these properly.
Improving your rotator cuff strength can help you return to normal activity and mobility if you have a frozen shoulder. Working your rotator cuff muscles is easy with a resistance band. Use the band to strengthen your shoulder in flexion, abduction, internal and external rotation, and extension. Perform each exercise for 10 to 15 repetitions, but only do these once a day. If you don’t have a resistance band, you can get one from your local physical therapist.
