Tom Willemann Health Tips

"Regular Health Tips From Physical Therapist Tom Willemann..."

Use the Form Below to Get Them All Sent to You for FREE

What else can my Physical Therapist do for my “Frozen Shoulder”?

Tom Willemann |

A recent article in the Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy in February 2012 highlighted a case study that used thoracic spinal manipulation in the treatment of primary and secondary adhesive capsulitis or “frozen shoulder“.  Typically a patient who suffers from adhesive capsulitis goes through a series of stages.  At the start a patient demonstrates a progressive loss of shoulder range of motion and onset of shoulder pain.  Researchers have not been able to be able to establish a
clear reason for “Why” this condition occurs.  However, certain high risk groups have been identified:
(1)    Diabetes
(2)    Females
(3)    Thyroid Problems
(4)    Greater than 40 years old
(5)    Following shoulder surgery or period of shoulder immobilization
(6)    Parkinson’s Disease
(7)    Tuberculosis
(8)    Cardiovascular Disease
In this article a significant increase in shoulder range of motion > 25 degrees was noted and decreased pain levels occurred after a spinal manipulation.   This occurred in less than four treatments. For patients with this condition I recommend asking your physical therapist to assess the thoracic spine for joint restrictions especially if you have reached a plateau.
If you ever have any questions regarding our thoughts on this research feel free to contact the staff at Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation.  We offer complimentary evaluations by our staff of physical therapists specializing in orthopedic and sports physical therapy. We serve patients residing in the Wyckoff, Oradell, Ho-ho-kus, West wood, Wyckoff, Ridgewood and surounding Bergen County region.  
Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Wyckoff, NJ provides orthopedic and sports physical therapy services for the greater Ridgewood, Wyckoff, and Bergen County region.  This blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. The views expressed here are the author’s views and should be taken as suggestions. Always consult your doctor or healthcare practitioner before engaging in a physical therapy or rehabilitative program.  

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann is a premier physical therapist based out of Bergen County, New Jersey. He holds an MS in physical therapy from the University of Miami, is credentialed in the world-renowned McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), and holds an OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) certification. As of 2018, there are approximately 14,000 ABPTS certified specialists in the nation and less than 400 of them are located in the state of New Jersey. Tom is the owner and director of Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus. He opened the clinic, which specializes in spine and sports injury prevention, in 2004 after many years of experience in the field. Tom’s caring interest in others and his strong belief in continuity of care, combined with his clinic’s ability to find solutions for the most difficult orthopedic problems, have earned Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation its excellent reputation with patients and medical professionals in northeastern New Jersey and beyond. A true “family man,” Tom takes pride in his clinic’s warm and welcoming environment.
Share This