Acupuncture Clinic Services

Frozen Shoulder Treatment in Greenville, SC

Frozen Shoulder Treatment at IHP Greenville — expert acupuncture for chronic pain and musculoskeletal issues. Dr. Hendry, DAOM. Call (864) 365-6156.

Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a painful and debilitating condition in which the shoulder joint capsule becomes inflamed, contracted, and filled with fibrous adhesions — progressively limiting range of motion over months to years if untreated. Conventional management is largely passive (steroid injections, physical therapy, manipulation under anesthesia), but acupuncture and dry needling offer an active biological intervention that addresses the capsular inflammation, myofascial restrictions, and neural sensitization driving this condition. At Integrative Health Partners, Dr. Hendry has developed a specific frozen shoulder protocol over 25 years that consistently produces progressive range-of-motion improvement.

How Frozen Shoulder Treatment Works

Frozen shoulder treatment combines aggressive local acupuncture and dry needling of all rotator cuff muscles (with particular attention to the subscapularis and posterior capsule), electroacupuncture for deeper tissue effects, and specific distal points that produce immediate pain reduction to enable active stretching during and after the session. Chinese herbal medicine is often prescribed to reduce systemic inflammation and support tissue healing.

Conditions Treated with Frozen Shoulder Treatment

Your First Appointment

Frozen shoulder is frequently associated with thyroid disease, diabetes, and autoimmune conditions — Dr. Hendry will screen for these. Bring any shoulder imaging. Wear a top that allows access to the entire shoulder and upper arm.

Why Dr. Hendry for Frozen Shoulder Treatment

Dr. Hendry's expertise in shoulder anatomy and his extensive trigger point needling experience in the rotator cuff muscles make him particularly effective for frozen shoulder. His functional medicine background allows him to investigate and address underlying metabolic or autoimmune contributors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Without treatment, frozen shoulder naturally cycles through freezing, frozen, and thawing phases over 18 months to 3+ years. With acupuncture and dry needling, most patients see meaningful ROM improvements within 8–12 sessions and near-complete resolution by 20–30 sessions.
Short-term, cortisone injections reduce inflammation faster. Long-term, acupuncture produces more complete resolution and does not carry the cartilage and tendon side effects of repeated steroid injections. Many patients benefit from one initial steroid injection to create a window for acupuncture to begin resolving the capsular adhesions.
Most cases are idiopathic (no clear cause), but frozen shoulder is significantly associated with diabetes, hypothyroidism, Dupuytren's contracture, and prior shoulder injury or surgery. Dr. Hendry screens for metabolic contributors as part of his treatment plan.
Yes — Dr. Hendry will prescribe specific pendulum exercises and passive capsular stretches to perform between sessions. Active participation in rehabilitation dramatically improves outcomes.
Manipulation under anesthesia breaks adhesions forcefully and quickly but can cause significant post-procedure pain and rarely causes fracture. Acupuncture progressively dissolves adhesions and reduces inflammation over multiple sessions — more gradual but with less risk.
Integrative Health Partners, 319 Wade Hampton Blvd, Ste A, Greenville, SC 29609. Call (864) 365-6156.

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