Can You Over-do Frozen Shoulder Exercises?

I'm asked often by my patients if it is possible to over-do frozen shoulder exercises. In short the answer is yes, you certainly can. But to leave it at that would be, in my opinion, simply enabling many sufferers of this diagnosis to give in to certain types of pain and limit their recovery. Most readers of this article have, or have had a frozen shoulder and know the incredible pain that goes along with it. You also know through experience that you cannot simply "will" your way through any exercise program designed for this condition and hope to regain any function you've lost. I know because I've had a frozen shoulder. What is important to know is that there are certain signs of over working your shoulder, and other signs which indicate you are on the right track.

First of all, you need to be able to differentiate between pain that should be expected with exercise and pain that is a signal that something is going wrong. Believe me, as crazy as it sounds there are some people whose pain threshold is so high they cannot tell if they are doing damage. Normal discomfort with stretching a frozen shoulder is typically felt around the shoulder and deltoid region. This type of pain should never be "sharp" or "stabbing" in nature. In addition, no pain should be felt just above the elbow or towards the hand. I tell my patients that if you feel an mild to medium achy stretch, then it is unlikely that you are doing damage to the shoulder. What is important with stretching exercise is the hold time. It is much better to take the arm to a light stretch and hold for longer periods than to bounce the stretch or hold too short of a period.

Another sign of over doing frozen shoulder exercises is how long pain or discomfort lasts after an exercise session. Although some fairly intense aching can be felt during a treatment session, this should never increase in intensity after stopping exercise, but rather decrease fairly quickly. Pain or discomfort that gets worse or lasts more than 24 hours after treatment is a red flag that too much is begin done. In this case consult your doctor if rest does not lesson the symptoms in a relatively short amount of time.

A final signal of over working frozen shoulder exercises is simply lack of results. Just as not doing enough can limit your progress, so can over use or too much exercise. The human body must have sufficient time to recouperate and repair itself. I always recommend frequent short bursts of exercise throughout the day versus one or more long drawn out sessions that run the risk of injury or poor progress.

By: Rex D. Taylor

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