Setting the Stage: The Journey Through Frozen Shoulder Recovery
In Parts 1 - 3 of this series, we've walked through the stages of frozen shoulder, tackling everything from my own struggles with overtraining and inactivity to key recovery strategies. We covered the essentials: slow, progressive stretching, strength training, finding balance, and practical tips for managing pain, enhancing mobility, and controlling blood sugar through consistent exercise. The takeaway? Balance is everything—and sometimes, the body’s limits surprise us in unexpected (and not always funny) ways.
Enter chiropractic care and Dr. Michael Wexel. His insights, honest advice, and targeted exercises truly kickstarted my recovery. While not every chiropractor may specialize in frozen shoulder, I’d strongly suggest giving it a try if you’re dealing with this condition. This “alternative treatment” should be anything but—it’s become a primary approach for so many, including me, in tandem with physiotherapy.
In today’s blog, we’ll dive into Dr. Wexel’s perspective on chiropractic care for frozen shoulder recovery and his recommendations for achieving long-term success.
How Chiropractic Care Supports Frozen Shoulder Recover
Background on Chiropractic Care for Frozen Shoulder Recovery
Chiropractic care can be a game-changer in the recovery journey for frozen shoulder, tackling both pain relief and mobility improvements in ways that complement traditional treatments like physiotherapy. While physiotherapy often zeroes in on targeted exercises and stretches to rebuild range of motion, chiropractic adjustments take a different approach by focusing on musculoskeletal alignment. This alignment can ease tension around the shoulder joint, boost blood flow to affected areas, and enhance the body’s overall healing process.
In my own experience, chiropractic care brought significant benefits: it relieved pain, reduced muscle tightness, and improved joint mobility, allowing me to expand my range of motion over time. A key part of my recovery was following Dr. Wexel’s advice consistently between sessions, not just waiting for the next appointment. Here are a few practices that made a difference:
Stretching my shoulder in the shower when hot water loosened the muscles.
Holding each stretch at my max comfortable range without aggravating the shoulder.
Learning to differentiate between "good pain" (a stretch) and "bad pain" (a warning sign) to avoid setbacks.
What makes chiropractic care unique is its holistic approach. Chiropractors often work on aligning the whole body, ensuring other areas aren’t compensating for shoulder limitations in unhealthy ways. For me, these sessions not only relieved stiffness but accelerated my overall progress, especially when combined with physiotherapy. Techniques like joint mobilization and soft tissue therapy helped support my body’s natural healing rhythm—a crucial factor with the long timeline of frozen shoulder recovery. After a few sessions, I remember thinking, “♪The hip bone’s connected to the♫ backbone, the backbone’s connected to the neck bone♪!” because the adjustments really did make a difference across my whole body. It also helped Dr. Wexel later discover that it was actually my muscles that were super tight, a lot more than we had realized, and suggested I see a physio to help... que Pascal, more on that a little later though.
The Holistic Impact of Chiropractic Care on Frozen Shoulder Recovery
Chiropractic care plays a critical role in treating frozen shoulder by addressing the root causes rather than just managing symptoms. As Dr. Wexel emphasized, the goal isn’t to mask the pain with anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxers, which can give temporary relief but don’t address the underlying issue. Instead, chiropractic treatments like soft tissue work and specific shoulder adjustments target the structural components, helping restore the shoulder’s mobility over time.
Dr. Wexel shared how his approach with frozen shoulder patients often involves a combination of chiropractic adjustments, Active Release Techniques (A.R.T.), targeted massage, and strength exercises to support the surrounding muscles. Through his experience, he’s observed that these techniques complement physiotherapy, massage, and acupuncture by enabling deeper adjustments to the shoulder girdle and related joints. For me, this holistic combination was essential in seeing real progress.
Busting Myths: Chiropractors and Shoulder Care for Frozen Shoulder
One of the biggest misconceptions about chiropractic care, according to Dr. Wexel, is that chiropractors “only work on the spine.” Many people don’t realize that chiropractors are trained to evaluate and treat a range of shoulder-related issues. Whether a particular chiropractor regularly treats these conditions may vary, but all receive foundational training to address them.
Patient Participation in Chiropractic Care for Effective Frozen Shoulder Recovery
Dr. Wexel stressed that one of the biggest hurdles patients face isn’t the condition itself but their own follow-through on recommended exercises. Recovery from frozen shoulder requires more than just in-office adjustments; it demands consistent effort on the patient’s part through prescribed stretches and strengthening exercises. Dr. Wexel mentioned, “Patients need to put in the time and energy” as the treatment for frozen shoulder is intense and requires dedication. That resonated with me since keeping up with my exercises and following his guidance between sessions made a world of difference in my progress.
The Power of Movement in Frozen Shoulder Recovery
The most important advice from Dr. Wexel? “Keep the shoulder moving—don’t baby or overprotect it.” The old-school approach of resting the shoulder doesn’t work here; movement is essential if there’s no significant trauma. Through consistent chiropractic sessions and maintaining a steady routine of stretches and exercises, frozen shoulder becomes more manageable. As Dr. Wexel aptly said, “If you don’t use it… you’ll lose it.”
Dr. Wexel’s recommended exercises focus on gradually increasing both active and passive ranges of motion, complemented by strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff, deltoid, pecs, and trapezius. These movements empower the shoulder to regain function and flexibility, ensuring long-term recovery.
Consistency is Key
As a final piece of advice, Dr. Wexel highlighted the importance of regular chiropractic sessions and consistent movement. The journey through frozen shoulder recovery isn’t fast—it can take weeks, if not months, to see significant improvements. However, you can “show the shoulder problem who’s boss through dedication and following a structured plan,” as Dr. Wexel aptly noted.
Creating a Balanced Recovery Plan: How Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Work Together
Why Chiropractic Care and Physiotherapy Work Hand-in-Hand for Frozen Shoulder Recovery
Recovering from frozen shoulder isn’t a one-step solution—it requires a blend of therapies that address the shoulder’s full range of needs. Chiropractic care focuses on alignment and easing muscle tension, providing immediate relief and flexibility. Physiotherapy, on the other hand, works to build stability and strength in those newly freed muscles. When used together, these treatments not only restore movement but help prevent future flare-ups by ensuring the shoulder is both flexible and strong.
In my own journey, I was so locked up when I first went to see Dr. Wexel. I had gone through rounds of advice from various specialists, most of whom suggested treating the shoulder delicately, almost as though any movement could do more harm than good. They all seemed to take a cautious approach, likely because adhesive capsulitis tends to affect older adults. But here’s the thing—frozen shoulder recovery requires a willingness to push through some pain to regain full functionality.
As challenging as it is, leaning into that discomfort under professional guidance is essential. Both chiropractic and physiotherapy taught me that the healing process requires active engagement with the pain. Pushing limits safely, distinguishing between productive pain and harmful pain, and moving the shoulder with purpose—that's where the real recovery happens. It’s not just about regaining "workable" function; it’s about reclaiming full range and strength.
The Role of Pain Management and Mobility in Chiropractic Care for Frozen Shoulder Recovery
Recovering from adhesive capsulitis is a balancing act involving pain management, restoring mobility, and eventually rebuilding strength. As I’ve learned, simply relieving pain isn’t enough. Chiropractic care addresses the structural tension that contributes to discomfort, creating the flexibility necessary for movement. But once that initial pain is managed, the next focus is ensuring the shoulder regains motion without setbacks.
One major side effect often overlooked in frozen shoulder recovery is muscle degradation and atrophy. While it may not be visible in the image of my shoulder above, muscle shrinkage around the scapular area had already begun. By the end stages of my condition, my shoulder had weakened so much that it looked almost skeletal, having lost significant muscle mass. So, beyond dealing with pain and restricted movement, frozen shoulder also leaves you feeling frustratingly weak.
When I began this journey, I was tempted to focus solely on pain relief. But frozen shoulder doesn’t resolve with rest and pain management alone; it requires reintroducing movement gradually and purposefully. Each small gain in mobility builds the foundation for the next stage, making it essential to keep moving—even on the days when progress feels painfully slow. Chiropractic adjustments combined with targeted exercises kept me moving forward. Pain management was essential for maintaining momentum, but it was never the end goal. The exercises Dr. Wexel recommended were instrumental not only in improving mobility but also in maintaining as much strength as possible. Gradually rebuilding the muscle I had lost became a primary focus, none of which would have been achievable without effective pain management.
Proactive Strength Building for Long-Term Stability Post-Chiropractic Care
Once the initial mobility and pain management phases were behind me, I realized that maintaining shoulder stability required more than just stretching—it needed strength. (I absolutely needed my muscle back😭!). Without actively rebuilding those muscles, the risk of another frozen shoulder flare-up or injury was all too real. I began with resistance bands and gradually progressed to heavier weights, focusing on slow, controlled movements that wouldn’t strain the joint. As I increased resistance over time, I could feel my shoulder stabilizing, with the surrounding muscles gradually providing better support for my range of motion.
Building strength in the surrounding muscles doesn’t just protect the shoulder joint; it also supports the entire recovery journey. Every gain in muscle stability made daily activities easier, and my gym workouts felt more powerful. Exercises targeting the rotator cuff, scapular stabilizers, and the entire shoulder complex were crucial in reinforcing gains in flexibility, mobility, and strength. The key here was consistency (yes, that consistency theme again!)—I had to stick with a plan that balanced stability and gradual strength increases to keep my shoulder resilient and functional in the long term.
Reclaiming Shoulder Health Through Consistency and Strength
Recovering from a frozen shoulder isn’t a quick fix or a passive process. It’s a journey that demands balance, persistence, and a proactive approach to strength-building. Every small step, from managing pain to gradually increasing mobility, lays the foundation for long-term resilience. The combination of chiropractic care and physiotherapy taught me that each therapy complements the other, working together to restore alignment, flexibility, and stability to the shoulder.
The most important lesson I learned? Recovery is an ongoing commitment. It’s about consistently engaging in the right exercises, listening to your body, and not shying away from the discomfort that comes with rebuilding strength. By actively working to regain mobility and reinforce stability, you’re setting yourself up for a stronger, healthier shoulder that can withstand the demands of daily life and exercise.
Moving forward, remember that each stretch, lift, and adjustment brings you closer to full recovery. And the journey doesn’t end there! In the next, and final, part of this series, I’ll be sharing insights from my interview with Pascal, whose approach to physical therapy offers additional strategies and techniques that have been vital in my recovery. Stay tuned for more on strengthening, flexibility, and recovery techniques that can make all the difference in the battle against frozen shoulder.
Stay strong, keep moving, and remember—full recovery is within reach!
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