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Acupuncture for Frozen Shoulder

Marlo Rapp

Updated: Jun 15, 2024



What is Frozen Shoulder?


Frozen shoulder is a condition in which your shoulder becomes stiff. It can make moving your arm unpleasant, limit your mobility, and disrupt your life. Because of the three stages of this illness, it's called a frozen shoulder. The first phase is the freezing phase, which is the gradual onset of shoulder pain. Your range of motion will be restricted during this period. The next step is the frozen period, during which you may notice that the discomfort has begun to subside. Your range of motion, however, will be limited, as if your shoulder is stuck in place. Finally, there will be a thawing phase. The pain will start to fade, and you will be able to move your shoulder more freely.


In most cases, frozen shoulder can be diagnosed by its symptoms and physical description. As a result, you won’t need any MRIs or X-rays. But your acupuncturist might still want to run a few tests to confirm their diagnosis.


Everyone is affected differently by frozen shoulder. It does, however, frequently have a few side effects. Some people, for example, may find it affects their work performance, particularly if they work in a physically demanding position. Others may discover that their discomfort is worse at night, making it difficult to sleep.


Nobody really knows what causes frozen shoulder. However, there are a few factors that may raise your chances of getting it. First and foremost, it is most common among diabetics. It's also more likely to happen if you've had your arm in the same posture for a long time, such as when you were healing from a broken arm and needed to wear a sling. One of the best ways to prevent frozen shoulder is by exercising your shoulders regularly to maintain range of motion in the joint.


Acupuncture for Frozen Shoulder


As previously mentioned, frozen shoulder usually resolves on its own. It may, however, take up to three years for you to fully recover. This will be too long for many people, especially if the pain or lack of motion is making you uncomfortable and interfering with your life. Acupuncture, thankfully, can be a successful treatment.

The concept behind acupuncture is that when a problem is treated, the mind and body are inextricably linked. As a result, an acupuncturist will use needles to stimulate pressure points on the body. This treatment clears your body's energy pathways (also known as "unblocking your qi" by practitioners). This restores body balance and can aid in the relief of pain and muscle stiffness.


Acupuncture has being studied to see if it can help with shoulder range of motion. One of the most frustrating aspects of frozen shoulder for many people is the stiffness. A group of 40 persons of varied ages with frozen shoulder were studied at the University of Medical Scientists in Iran. They discovered that those who underwent acupuncture treatments had the best outcomes. Most notably, these patients reported increased range of motion and less shoulder pain following their session.


There are several possible explanations for these findings. Acupuncture has been demonstrated to stimulate nerves in muscles and tissues, for starters. Endorphins, which are natural painkillers, are released in your brain as a result of this process. Acupuncture can also help to relieve inflammation and improve blood circulation in the area around your shoulder. As a result, the range of motion of your shoulder will gradually improve.


Your acupuncturist will customize your treatment to meet your specific needs and achieve the best results possible. This could, however, entail concentrating on the "yanglingquan" spot in your leg. They may also utilize a deep-insertion needle on the affected shoulder's side. This point is beneficial because it runs over the "jianjing" meridian, which is related with neck and shoulder strain.

Frozen shoulder is extremely unpleasant because it drastically decreases your shoulder's range of motion. It can have a significant influence on your everyday life, making it more difficult for you to complete your job or engage in the activities you enjoy. This, however, does not have to be the case. As we've learned, there's a lot of evidence that acupuncture can help with frozen shoulder naturally. It can help with the discomfort and anxiety associated with the disease, as well as enhance your shoulder's range of motion. The findings show that acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment.



Marlo Rapp Acupuncture San Tan Valley, AZ

Specializing in acupuncture and TCM, cupping, injection therapy, Chinese Herbs, moxibustion, tuina, nutritional therapy, and more!

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