Best Massages for Treating A Frozen Shoulder (2024)

Have you had excessive pain or trouble when trying to lift your arm? Have you recently undergone a shoulder injury that you can’t seem to shake off? It is possible that you may be suffering from frozen shoulder (also known as adhesive capsulitis).

Frozen shoulder is the thickening, scarring and shrinkage of the joint capsule that can lead to the loss of motion in your shoulders. Symptoms like stiffness and pain can also come about from a frozen shoulders. The longer the shoulder goes untreated, the longer the symptoms will remain. Symptoms can last up to about 2 years if left untreated – thus it is very important to seek treatment if you find yourself struggling with shoulder pain.

Massages are a great way to alleviate the pain that you may go through with a frozen shoulder and they can even begin to alleviate symptoms if the correct massages are done professionally. The massages may be uncomfortable at first and it’s important to know that one massage will not treat frozen shoulder for good. Regular massages and muscle therapy are required to regain motion without pain from frozen shoulder.

Certain massages are better for some compared to others. It is important to know which massage is best for you and your pain. The following are examples of massages that you can undergo with a frozen shoulder to help treat the pain:

Swedish Massage

A Swedish massage consists of soft strokes on delicate areas of the body and rough strokes on tougher areas of the body. This kind of massage is popular for those suffering from frozen shoulder because it is known for easing muscle strain. A Swedish massage normally lasts anywhere between 60-90 minutes. While there will be pain during the massage due to your shoulder, it is important to relax and not tense up for the benefit of both you and the masseuse. The masseuse will most likely use oils and lotions to help make the massage more comfortable and relaxing or even play soothing music for ambiance.

Deep Tissue Massage

Frozen shoulder can result in intense pain and what is better than to combat intense pain with a deeper, more intense tissue massage. A deep tissue massage applies far more pressure than a Swedish massage and those with more severe conditions of the frozen shoulder should seek this massage for best results. Deep massages can leave healthy muscles feeling sore, so it is important to note that you may be in more intense pain in this type of massage. You may want to agree on pain tolerance and what amount of pain is bearable for you when seeking a masseuse for this kind of massage when undergoing a frozen shoulder.

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger point therapy is known as a remedial massage that can reach tender muscles and trigger points throughout your body. This kind of massage therapy can reduce inflammation and serve as a great solution for muscle stiffness. When searching for a masseuse for this kind of massage therapy it is important to search for a well-experienced therapist who understands this kind of therapy and how to use it to best treat frozen shoulders.

Heat Therapy Along with massage therapy, heat therapy—like that implemented with a Hot Stone Massage—is a great aid used to enhance recovery time. Heat therapy, also known as thermotherapy, uses the application of heat to encourage circulation within your blood vessels. Heat therapy is an excellent way to relieve the pain from frozen shoulder post-massage therapy of any of the massages listed above. Heating packs or steamed towels are the most common material used when undergoing heat therapy, your masseuse will understand which is best for you for treatment of your frozen shoulder.