Acupuncture Sports Medicine Webinar Series - Course 4

Frozen shoulder is not necessarily a precise medical diagnosis. In fact, the causes of frozen shoulder are not fully understood and texts differ in their description of the pathology. The process may involve a thickening and contracture of the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint. Some sources call the condition “adhesive capsulitis,” where adhesions within the joint are responsible for decreased mobility. Others suggest that synovial inflammation is causative.

The work of Dr. Janet Travell looks at myofascial causes of frozen shoulder that result from trigger points and dysfunction of the subscapularis muscle. Sometimes associated with known etiology, such as capsular lesions, rotator cuff injury, or trauma, frozen shoulder may be as simple as a post-surgical occurrence. With all these different causes of dysfunction, it is no wonder that no single technique of acupuncture works a majority of the time.

Whitfield Reaves will discuss some of the approaches he has found useful in treating this sometimes stubborn, clinical complaint. And while frozen shoulder may resist treatment at times, the practitioner needs to be fully aware of its causes, and thus, precise treatment may be better performed. Different complementary treatments, such as physical therapy, will also be discussed.

Access Period: Lifetime

Course Notes: Notes are provided with this course.

Provider: CPD Cert