Liz Seal Holistic Massage

With Liz Seal,

Frozen shoulder is a chronic condition affecting the movement and comfort of the shoulder joint. Frozen shoulder happens when the tissues around the joint become inflamed, then the tissues shrink and get tighter, causing pain and a reduction in mobility. It can be as a result of injury or surgery which restricts the movement of the arm, but there can be occurrences where there is no known cause. Diabetics may be more prone to this type of condition, so regular diabetic health checks are always recommended.

Treatment for Frozen shoulder includes the use of pain relief, either over the counter or prescribed by the GP depending on the level of pain. Steroid injections may be suggested if the inflammation is severe. Once the pain is reduced, exercises to improve flexibility will be recommended, often under the supervision of a physiotherapist.

Massage around the area can also promote healing, reduction in inflammation and reducing pain and discomfort. The Indian head treatment which I offer is a seated treatment, which allows the arms to be kept at a comfortable angle along the sides, and targets particularly the shoulder and neck area.

Essential oils can be very useful when tackling symptoms of pain and inflammation. The warming spice oils are my first thought when helping a client with frozen shoulder, as the name suggests to me that increasing the temperature of the joint will be helpful!

Case study

The blend which I have used for a client who had frozen shoulder was Black pepper, Cinnamon, Rosemary and Silver Fir, all of which have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and are warming and comforting in aroma. My client had a course of treatments, usually seated Indian Head treatment with the occasional back and shoulder treatment, lying on the treatment couch, as her preference on the day dictated. These treatments occurred about once a month, and after a short time, found that the movement and comfort of the joint were improving. (She also followed the exercises given to her by her Physio, used a heated wheat pack as required and reduced the amount of heavy gardening while healing took place!)

 

Care must always be taken to use Essential oils in the correct dilution, as they are very powerful and can be over-stimulating if too strong a blend is used. The oils must never be applied undiluted to the skin. For further information on how massage and aromatherapy can assist with a range of conditions like this, please contact me for a consultation and treatment.