Frozen Shoulder - Clinical Massage in Westlake Hills, TX

Frozen shoulder can greatly affect your daily life, challenging you with even simple movements. Our approach to clinical massage focuses on addressing the specific muscles and joints impacted by this condition. Through targeted assessments and personalized treatment plans, we concentrate on the areas most affected to reduce stiffness, alleviate pain, and improve shoulder mobility. This method helps clients regain comfort and functionality in their daily activities.

Comprehensive Treatment for Frozen Shoulder with Clinical Massage

The Iler Method®, located in Westlake Hills near the Westlake Medical Center, offers a strategic and individualized approach to clinical massage, making it particularly effective for treating frozen shoulder. Unlike traditional massage techniques, our comprehensive method involves thorough sports massage assessments and client feedback to develop tailored treatment plans before beginning bodywork.

Our proactive strategy ensures that each session targets specific areas of concern, more efficiently addressing the stiffness and pain associated with a frozen shoulder.

This approach moves away from the standard whole-body massage in every session. Instead, the Iler Method focuses on the most problematic areas identified through initial assessments. This concentrated treatment allows our therapists to use their time more efficiently, achieving better results for clients with frozen shoulder. Focus on the areas most affected by the condition releases the tightened shoulder capsule and improves mobility more effectively.

Client feedback is integral to our comprehensive treatment process. During sessions, we adjust pressure and techniques to maximize therapeutic outcomes. Using trigger point therapy and manual Therapy, our therapists address the concerns of frozen shoulders, ensuring each appointment is effective and responsive to individual needs.

This personalized, client-centered approach alleviates pain and enhances our clients' mobility and overall quality of life.

Recognizing Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder

Persistent Shoulder Pain: Continuous, aching pain in the shoulder joint, often worse at night.

Stiffness: A noticeable reduction in the shoulder's range of motion, making it difficult to move the arm.

Limited Arm Movement: Difficulty performing everyday activities that involve shoulder movement, such as reaching overhead or behind the back.

Pain with Movement: Increased pain when moving the shoulder, particularly during specific movements or activities.

Gradual Onset: Symptoms typically start gradually and worsen over time, progressing through different stages.

Night Pain: Increased discomfort and pain during the night, often disrupting sleep.

Frozen Stage: Pain may decrease, but the shoulder remains stiff and difficult to move.

Muscle Weakness: Weakness in the shoulder muscles due to decreased use and movement.

Joint Tightness: A tightness around the shoulder joint, similar to a tight drawstring.

Thawing Stage: Gradual improvement in shoulder movement and reduction in stiffness as the condition begins to resolve.

Understanding Frozen Shoulder - Iler Method® Therapy

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition marked by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint, significantly limiting its range of motion. This condition occurs when the shoulder capsule, a connective tissue surrounding the joint, thickens and tightens around the shoulder, as a drawstring bag is pulled too tight, restricting its opening.

As clinical massage therapists at the Iler Method in Westlake Hills, TX, we understand that this condition can severely impact a person's daily activities and overall quality of life. It typically progresses through three stages: freezing, frozen, and thawing, each with distinct symptoms and challenges. In addition to treating frozen shoulder, we address issues like neck and chronic pain often accompanying this condition.

At our clinical massage practice, our primary focus is on relieving the pain and enhancing the mobility associated with a frozen shoulder. Through the Iler Method, we utilize precise massage techniques to loosen the tightened 'drawstring' around the shoulder joint, thereby reducing stiffness in the shoulder capsule and surrounding muscles. This type of massage explicitly addresses the soft tissues and targets the specific issue of a frozen shoulder.

This process involves careful manipulation of the shoulder joint and adjacent areas to improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and break down adhesions. By incorporating sports massage techniques, we ensure our clients receive the most effective treatment, whether they lead an active lifestyle or recover from an injury. The Iler Method® not only addresses the immediate discomfort but promotes long-term relief and improved function, allowing clients to maintain an active lifestyle.

Common Causes of Frozen Shoulder

Prolonged Immobility: Extended periods of shoulder inactivity, often due to surgery or injury, can develop a frozen shoulder as the shoulder capsule tightens from lack of movement.

Diabetes: Individuals with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing a frozen shoulder. The exact reason is unclear, but it is thought to be related to changes in connective tissue caused by high blood sugar levels.

Thyroid Disorders: Both hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) increased the risk of a frozen shoulder, possibly due to metabolic changes affecting the connective tissues.

Cardiovascular Disease: Conditions such as heart disease can contribute to the development of a frozen shoulder, possibly due to changes in blood flow and inflammation affecting the shoulder joint.

Parkinson's Disease: This neurological condition can lead to muscle stiffness and reduced movement, contributing to the development of a frozen shoulder.

Autoimmune Diseases: Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune system attacks the body's tissues, can cause inflammation and tightening of the shoulder capsule, leading to a frozen shoulder.

Age and Gender: Frozen shoulder is more common in people aged 40 to 60, and women are more likely to develop the condition than men, possibly due to hormonal changes affecting connective tissues.

Previous Shoulder Injuries: Past shoulder injuries, such as rotator cuff tears or fractures, can lead to limited shoulder movement during recovery, increasing the risk of developing a frozen shoulder.

Clinical Massage Techniques for Long-Lasting Pain Relief from Frozen Shoulder

At Iler Method Therapy in Westlake Hills, TX, we employ specialized clinical massage techniques to treat this condition effectively. Our approach focuses on the Universal Pattern of Compensation (UPC), which identifies how muscles overcompensate for weaknesses or injuries, leading to pain and restricted movement.

We provide long-lasting relief from frozen shoulder, neck, and chronic pain by addressing these compensation patterns.

The Iler Method involves a comprehensive assessment during the first appointment to identify these overcompensating muscles and the specific areas causing discomfort. This personalized evaluation ensures our treatment plan effectively targets the condition's root causes.

Our treatment plan typically consists of ten sessions, during which we systematically release trigger points and adhesions within the shoulder and surrounding muscles. This systematic approach starts locally, focusing on the most affected areas, and gradually expands to address the entire shoulder region. By improving circulation and reducing muscle tension, we restore flexibility and alleviate pain, enhancing shoulder mobility. 

Clients also receive self-care instructions, including trigger point tools, heat and ice protocols, and Epsom salt baths to support their recovery between sessions.

The Iler Method offers a comprehensive and individualized sports massage approach to treating frozen shoulder. We address the Universal Pattern of Compensation and provide clients with preventive measures to ensure sustainable pain relief and improved shoulder function.

For those in Westlake Hills, TX, or surrounding areas struggling with a frozen shoulder, the Iler Method provides:

• A path to recovery.
• Restoring mobility.
• Enhancing the overall quality of life through expert clinical massage techniques.

Our first-time clients often report less pain and improved function after their initial visits, thanks to our advanced techniques and years of experience addressing sports injuries and persistent pain.

Final Thoughts on Treating Frozen Shoulder with the Iler Method®

For individuals in Westlake Hills, TX, and the surrounding areas, the Iler Method represents a path to overcoming the debilitating effects of a frozen shoulder. Our specialized clinical massage techniques aim to restore shoulder function and reduce pain, enabling our clients to resume their daily activities confidently. If you're experiencing a frozen shoulder, contact us today to begin your journey toward recovery and experience the lasting benefits of the Iler Method.

Disclaimer -

Please note that at Iler Method® Therapy, we specialize in massage therapy and related techniques. All clients must understand that we are not medical professionals; our services are not substitutes for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Our practices are designed to support and complement your overall health, but they do not replace professional medical consultation when needed.