Frozen Shoulder Trigger Points

Trigger points are painful areas of hypersensitivity with muscle tissue. They often accompany a frozen shoulder and make the condition even more painful than it already is. These trigger points go through flare-up phases and can feel like your neck muscles or muscles of the upper back are tied in knots. There is relief for those trigger points - namely "trigger point massage". This involves using a hard, knobby instrument or one's knuckles to apply deep tissue pressure over the hypersensitive area. This will "release" the trigger point if done with enough force over time. Most people do not have the strength or endurance to perform this type of massage on another. The answer to this problem is the "knobber" which is a commercially available product designed to take the effort out of giving a trigger point massage. An excellent trigger point massage can be performed independently with a "Theracane". This ingenious device is shaped like a candy cane with knobby projections coming out from the side. This in conjunction with frozen shoulder exercise can make life much more bearable during a frozen shoulder.

A theracane is described and can be purchased at Frozen Shoulder Therapy on Squidoo.com

Frozen Shoulder Therapy Massage

Will Massage Help My Frozen Shoulder?

The benefits of massage in frozen shoulder therapy are numerous. Besides just "feeling good" a massage calls in to play the release of pain inhibitors which can often sustain relief hours after receiving the massage. The type of massage most effective is "trigger point" massage and can be viewed in this video.

Trigger point massage involves applying pressure to particularly painful areas in the rotator cuff which contribute to stiffness and soreness when attempting to move the affected shoulder. Although a trained massage therapist is most effective in determining these trigger points, anyone can apply the massage and find these areas through feedback from the sufferer of the frozen shoulder.

Before beginning the massage it's best to apply moist heat for approximately 10 minutes to the affected shoulder. When applying the massage use a scent-free massage lotion or cream to reduce friction.

It's best to start with the person lying on their side with a pillow under their affected arm. The person applying the massage should start with "stroking" the affected arm. This induces relaxtion initially which is "key" to maximizing the effects of the massage. Next, gradual increasing pressure should be applied in a circular fashion to the back and side of the shoulder, taking note of painful trigger point areas as the patient responds.

Once a trigger point is found, the area should be worked on for 2-3 minutes before moving on to the next area. After completing massage to the shoulder for about 15-20 minutes, the patient should be left to lie in a relaxed position for another 5 minutes before getting up.

More information regarding frozen shoulder exercise and treatment can be found at http://www.squidoo.com/Melt_Frozen_Shoulder