Training in the Sporting Shoulder

Denis Mecklenburg recently completed a high-level sporting shoulder course conducted by shoulder physiotherapy clinician, researcher and course presenter – Lyn Watson.

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, which also makes it prone to injury. If you’re an athlete, taxing your shoulder over time with repetitive, overhead movements or participating in contact sports may put your shoulder at risk for injury.

With a mix of both theory and practical components, Dr Lyn Watson covered various topics including:

At PhysioActive, we place great emphasis on continuing professional development because it ensures that our physiotherapists continue to be competent in their profession. This is also an ongoing process to ensure our quality of care to our patients!

Frozen Shoulder Treatment with the Niel-Asher Technique™

Last month, Denis Mecklenburg had an opportunity to learn about the treatment of Frozen Shoulder using the renowned Niel-Asher Technique™.

He was tutored by Stuart Hinds, a leading Australian soft tissue physical therapist with over 28 years’ experience in professional practice.

What are common causes of frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition where the shoulder joint has a limited range of motion and pain is felt when exploring the range of motion of the shoulder.

The frozen shoulder cause may vary from individual to individual. Typically, the causes of frozen shoulder are mainly physiological in nature. Injuries that prevent you from moving your shoulder or make you incapable of moving your arm (such as a stroke) increase your risk of developing frozen shoulder.

Some risk factors of developing frozen shoulder include:

If your shoulder is immobile due to physical reasons and you begin to feel pain, consider visiting a doctor for a physical exam. Your doctor may recommend imaging tests or he/she may instruct you to perform frozen shoulder exercises. Performing exercise for frozen shoulder will keep the shoulder active, reduce pain and inflammation as well as prevent the frozen shoulder from worsening.

What is the Niel-Asher Technique™?

The Niel-Asher Technique™ is a ‘natural’ method of frozen shoulder treatment that does not involve any drug or surgery. Instead, the technique uses a specific and unique sequence of manipulations and pressure points to the joints and soft-tissues of the frozen shoulder. It is a form of frozen shoulder exercise and physical therapy that seeks to reduce swelling and pain of the shoulder and regain range of motion.

In summary, it works with the body and listens to the body’s wisdom – not by forcing the arm into the restricted ranges, but by applying gentle stimulation to muscles whilst they are resting. The technique manipulates the shoulder joint and the shoulder muscles - loosening up the shoulder capsule and joint capsule in the process. No pain is felt during this technique.

This technique has been in use since the 1990s and has been adopted and approved by medical professionals in the UK, Europe, and the United States for the treatment of frozen shoulder.

How does the Niel-Asher Technique™ differs from other treatments?

Traditional approaches to the frozen shoulder either address the inflammation (steroid tablets, steroid injections and hydrodilatation) or the stiffness (physical therapy, exercise therapy and surgical manipulation). Some might also attempt to improve the range of motion by forcing the shoulder through the blockage. Depending on the context, sometimes forcing might lead to a worsening of symptoms, leading to damage on the shoulder joint or the rotator cuff.

On the other hand, the Niel-Asher Technique™ addresses the inflammation in the rotator interval and emphasizes on improving the range of motion. Results can be seen in just 1 session! However, this would depend on how long you have had the problem and which phase you are in.

At PhysioActive, we place great emphasis on continuing professional development because it ensures that our physiotherapists continue to be competent in their profession. This is also an ongoing process to ensure our quality of care to our patients!

Lyn Watson Shoulder Course

The PhysioActive team cordially invited Dr Lyn Watson from the Melbourne Shoulder Group to conduct her specialty Shoulder Course right here in Singapore.

Dr Lyn Watson is an Australian Manipulative & Sports Physiotherapist with over 30 years experience in clinical practice and research into the shoulder. She holds an Adjunct Professorial position in research at Western University in Ontario Canada and has been teaching physiotherapists throughout Australia and around the world for the last 25 years.

The two-day course for registered physiotherapists in Singapore included the latest evidence-based best practices: research, clinical information and treatment techniques as well as examples of real patient presentation.

It provided the therapists with relevant information and techniques that will have immediate clinical application in the way shoulder patients are assessed, informed, managed and treated.

At PhysioActive, we are grateful for these opportunities to improve our own learning, and find every chance to pass on the knowledge we gain as benefits to our patients!

 

Planning an international course/conference?

From local sporting events to international tours and conferences, our expertise makes us the team of choice to manage your specific event requirements!

Contact or drop us an email today at info@physioactive.sg to find out more.

Congratulations Denis Mecklenburg!

Denis Mecklenburg successfully completed a high-level shoulder orthopaedic course in Australia last month - the Lyn Watson Level 2 Shoulder Course.

Over the past 10 years, approximately 4,000 Physiotherapists in 8 countries have completed this course conducted by shoulder physiotherapy clinician, researcher and course presenter – Lyn Watson.

“Learning from Lyn, a renowned shoulder physiotherapy clinician, researcher and course presenter, was definitely an enriching experience. I had the opportunity to observe her at work, where she assessed, developed primary diagnoses and treatment strategies for new patients with a variety of conditions. There was also an open discussion about her assessment techniques, differential diagnoses, treatment and rehabilitation strategies and progression of rehabilitation. This course is simply world-class!”

- Denis Mecklenburg

Denis brought back invaluable clinical reasoning skills to develop an assessment and treatment strategy for any shoulder patient that presents to our clinic. He is also eager to share what he has learnt with the team so that we can continue to provide the highest standards of physiotherapy and rehabilitation services in Singapore.

At PhysioActive, we are grateful for these opportunities to improve our own learning, and find every chance to pass on the knowledge we gain as benefits to our patients.

Don’t shrug off shoulder pain! Pain in this joint can curb your independence. Catch problems early, build strength, and avoid injury!