You have intense right shoulder pain. It’s so painful you can’t sleep at night. You can barely move it. It’s been going on for months and you’ve been told by your doctor or read that your frozen shoulder could last up to three years or more. You’re grumpy and it’s consuming your personal and professional life in every aspect. You’re tired of popping pain medications and they’re not working anyway. Find out how a specific chiropractic treatment for frozen shoulder called OTZ technique may provide immediate relief for you.
What is frozen shoulder?
Frozen Shoulder Syndrome (Adhesive Capsulitis) is a very exhausting condition. First, frozen shoulder involves intense pain in the shoulder and a limited ability to move the arm. Second, patients who have frozen shoulder will also suffer from a significant loss of sleep because of the intense pain. And finally, frozen shoulder can last from 5 months up to 3 years or more. (1) Women tend to get it more then men. (2)
Traditional treatments for frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder is a very frustrating condition for patients and the health practitioners treating it. For one thing, the treatment process is very long and often with slow results. In addition, some patients may still have residual pain and reduced use of their shoulder for many years later.
Most medical treatments for frozen shoulder will focus on the shoulder only. This would include pain medications (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and steroid injections) and surgery. (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Physiotherapists will tend to use heat, ultrasound, stretching and shoulder mobilization. (8, 9, 10, 11)
Chiropractors tend to use adjustments (manipulation) to the neck and mid back and will get the patients to stretch the shoulder as well. (12, 13, 14, 15)
All of these treatments work to some degree, but take a very long time. As mentioned, some patients may never recover completely. (16)
OTZ chiropractic treatment for frozen shoulder patients
The OTZ chiropractic treatment (adjustment) for frozen shoulder, founded by Dr. Francis Murphy, has shown a lot of promise. In other words, many patients with frozen shoulder have experienced immediate results when getting the OTZ chiropractic treatment.
Although more research may need to be done to appease the masses, outcomes from applying the OTZ chiropractic treatment for frozen shoulder are very encouraging. Besides the numerous patients I have witnessed improve immediately because of this treatment, there has been one research study showing how effective it can be. In this study, 50 cases were treated and followed over an 11 to 51 day period. Of the 50 cases, 16 resolved completely (100% improvement), 25 showed 75% to 90% improvement, 8 showed 50% to 75% improvement, and 1 showed 0% to 50% improvement. (17) I have used the OTZ technique on my frozen shoulder patients for several years now and I would say these numbers are accurate.
What is the OTZ chiropractic treatment for frozen shoulder?
OTZ uses a unique analysis and adjustment (manipulation) of the joint between the skull (occiput) and the first spinal bone (the atlas vertebrae) in the neck. When there is a loss of mobility or a misalignment in this joint it can interfere with the nerve signals that control some of the muscles of the shoulder. The muscles can become weak and tight which will can cause the shoulder to become unstable. Movement of the shoulder decreases gradually and pain sets in. If the OTZ chiropractic adjustment is done correctly, it will turn the “nerve circuit” back on to the shoulder muscles restoring shoulder range of motion. Again, if the OTZ chiropractic adjustment is done correctly you will often see results that will blow your socks off.
If the OTZ chiropractic adjustment is done correctly you will often see results that will blow your socks off.
I have seen many frozen shoulder patients over the years. Before I learned the OTZ chiropractic technique I would work on my frozen shoulder patients for four to eight months. It was frustrating and boring. I remember treating a patient of mine David on the “old protocol”. His pain got better to some degree but his range of motion was never fully restored. He came into see me after I learned this technique and look at what happened after his first OTZ adjustment (see below video). He got home and his wife was in tears.
That’s what it is all about: making dramatic improvements in my patient’s health so they can carry on living their lives with strength, focus, energy and happiness.
You can also refer to the following link to see a great clip of frozen shoulder patients getting the OTZ treatment on the movie “Doctored”.
Summary
Frozen shoulder is usually a long, painful, and tiresome condition. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
If you or your loved one is suffering with frozen shoulder, please seek out a chiropractor who is proficient in using the OTZ chiropractic technique. There’s a good chance it will be the solution you were looking for.
To learn more about how chiropractic care can help you and your family please read our ultimate guide to chiropractic called Chiropractic Care for Everyone.
My name is Mark Gove. I just turned 50 several months ago and have Adhesive Capsulitus in my right shoulder. It has been a almost a year since the initial diagnosis. I initially had gone to several medical appointments and some Physical Therapy through workers comp but, after a couple of months and no change, I was told that my shoulder would go through the ” thawing process” but, it may take several years. Looking for some much needed, positive info. This looks great!
Hi Mark,
Where do you live? I might be able to help you find a chiropractor that does this technique.
Regards,
Dr. Collins
Hi, I have had a frozen shoulder for about 10 months and am going crazy!! Thankfully most of the pain is gone now but my shoulder is still frozen and so tight feeling. I would love it if you could recommend someone in the GTA area who would be able to help
Hi Angela,
Dr. Patricia McCord does OTZ in the GTA. You can find her contact through website searches.
Hope that helps.
Dr. Collins
There is no movement in the shoulder very little ..had rotator cuff surgery they could barely move my should while under anesthesia.. after surgery still little movement..going to pt now not much help
Hi Carolyn,
You didn’t ask a question but from your comments you seem frustrated and at a loss as to what to do. Search google for OTZ chiropractic technique to see if there is someone reasonably close to where you live that does it. Worth a try.
Good luck.
Dr. Collins
I have frozen shoulder in my right side
Is there anyone in the Portland, OR area that is familiar with this technique?
Sorry for the delayed response Debbie. I looked online for you but did not come across anyone in the Portland area. Sorry. You would think there would be someone in Oregon that does it. Maybe you could try and do an online search for other areas near Portland?
Can you recommend a doctor in the Phoenix AZ area that practices the OTZ method?
Hi Katherine, sorry I don’t know any chiropractors in Phoenix. The best way to find one that does OTZ is to google something like OTZ chiropractic phoenix arizona area.
Dr. Collins
Hello Dr. Collins,
On an average how many OTZ adjustments must be done to resolve a frozen shoulder? I got my first one done with only marginal improvement.
Thanks
Niru
Hi Niru, I have found there are frozen shoulders that seem to respond very quickly to OTZ adjustments and those that don’t or not at all. So in my experience, the ones that are easy to resolve completely do so in 1-3 visits. The frozen shoulders that are harder, you will see decent results within 6 visits and should continue to see results within the following 6 visits (as long as you are getting it treated at least a couple of times per week). If the patient and I don’t see any improvement within 6 visits with better range of motion in the shoulder and/or pain reduction, the patient moves on to some other type of treatment. I don’t waste their time or money after that. Hope that helps you.
Dr. Collins