Frozen shoulder (aka adhesive capsulitis), as you know, can be very debilitating. It keeps you from carrying out the simplest of day-to-day activities, it can cause sleepless nights and be agonisingly painful.
Most doctors will say that nothing can be done - you just have to wait it out for 18 to 24 months until it goes away on its own. Frozen shoulder indeed will go away after that time, but left on its own, it can be excrutiating for several months.
Some doctors recommend physiotherapy. From all of the reports that I have heard from clients, it does not help, and the exercises involved make the arm even more painful. Cortisone injections are also often advised. Sometimes they do reduce pain - about 33% of my clients with frozen shoulder have reported that it provides relief for six to eight weeks, but cortisone damages connective tissue and can leave you worse off in the long run.1
What is one with frozen shoulder to do?
Rather than waiting it out, trying physio or going with a cortisone injection, why not try Bowen Therapy? Bowen is absolutely safe and pain-free. In my practice I have found that Bowen has a higher success rate than cortisone (about 50%). For those experiencing frozen shoulder for the second time or in the opposite arm I have found Bowen to be extremely beneficial (about a 90% success rate). Bowen actually stimulates the body's natural healing response, rather than suppressing it as cortisone does.
Independent research has also shown Bowen to be effective for treatment of frozen shoulder
Studies show that Bowen Therapy is successful as a frozen shoulder treatment - improving mobility and functional status, reducing pain and contributing to a feeling of enhanced well-being.
In a British study Dr Bernie Carter states that all participants had a significant improvement in shoulder mobility, with 70% of participants regaining full mobility and a marked reduction in pain by the end of the treatment (3-6 sessions)2.
In a separate study 78% of patients receiving three frozen shoulder treatments experienced improved shoulder range of motion. These patients averaged a 40 degree increase in shoulder abduction (raising the arm out by the side) as well as improvement in seven other shoulder movements3.
Here are what some of the participants had to say:
"Just after the first treatment, and just walking down the road, I felt really good... because I came in with quite a pain in my shoulder and down my arm. I thought 'Oh, yes, this is really super!' I began to feel it at night again and when I was tired. But as the days went on and each subsequent week it got better and better."
"I was quite amazed myself that I felt so much relief after such a short time, after having it so long."
"[The frozen shoulder treatment] just felt like you were being touched and I was surprised at how little you had to do to make it work. It was nice as well... I wasn't sure that it was going to work but it did..."
So what is Bowen Therapy?
Bowen Therapy is a gentle, relaxing, non-invasive and pain-free approach to the treatment of frozen shoulder. Precise rolling movements are performed over specific muscles and connective tissue. These movements send powerful signals through the tissues of the body that work to balance the musculo-skeletal and nervous systems and break up adhesions causing limited range of motion.
"Bowen makes me feel good. It is gentle, non-intrusive. I always feel so relaxed afterwards, like my body is mine again. I feel like I’m me, which I haven’t felt for years and years and years. And it’s gentle, very gentle on the body."
M.B. Cremorne
How many Bowen sessions do I need for Frozen Shoulder?
Three to six sessions are required for frozen shoulder. Usually you can expect relief after two to four sessions.
Book your appointment: call 02 9037 9433 or email bowen@wholebeing.com.au to begin your Bowen frozen shoulder sessions. Health funds rebates are available.
Joshua Rasco has practices located at 110 Bannockburn Road, Pymble and the Crows Nest Complementary Health Centre, 3 Bruce St (cnr Pacific Hwy), Crows Nest. Joshua has a Diploma of Bowen Therapy and is a full member of the Bowen Association of Australia and the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia.
1 New York Times, 27 Oct 2010, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/do-cortisone-shots-actually-make-things-worse/
2 Carter, Bernie, 2001. 'Evaluation of Bowen Technique in the Treatment of Frozen Shoulder', Complementary Therapies in Medicine vol 9, no 4
3 Kinnear, Helen and Baker, Julian, 2000. 'Frozen Shoulder Research Programme', UK, http://www.thebowentechnique.com/content/frozen.htm
Note/Disclaimer: Bowen Therapy and the information provided above are not to be used as a substitute for seeking medical advice for your condition. Please consult your medical practitioner if you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned.
"My shoulder was so painful. I could barely move. I could barely drive the car. And I couldn’t sleep – it was absolute agony. My doctor diagnosed it as frozen shoulder and gave me a cortisone injection, which helped for a couple of months. But he said there was nothing further I could do for it, that it wasn’t worth bothering with physio because it wouldn't fix it (I tried physio anyway and he was right, it didn’t help)."
I had the frozen shoulder for about five months before trying Bowen Therapy. I started to feel better after about four sessions. Bowen certainly eased it."
Jane Belcher, Willoughby
"I have been fortunate enough to know Joshua Rasco for the past 12 months. During this time he has treated me with the Bowen Technique for my frozen shoulder. Joshua’s knowledge, dedication and focus with his clients is amazing. You instantly get the sense you are in good hands with him. He seems to have the knack of tuning into your exact needs, making you feel immediatley comfortable. Since seeing Joshua, my shoulder movement has returned and my over all wellbeing has improved. Thank you so much Joshua!"
Kim, Turramurra
"Since having Bowen I’m sleeping a lot better. I’ve been a chronic insomniac for all my life. A good night’s sleep was about four and half hours and I now sleep, most nights, about seven hours. To be able to sleep more is just amazing for me."
Gillian Reed, Mt Kuring-gai