Hi everyone,

I am 8.5 weeks post-surgery from a left shoulder slap tear repair. From my most recent visit, my PT says I am at risk of frozen shoulder. After she stretched/moved my shoulder, I did have slightly better active ROM myself. She concluded that she thinks I do not have it at this time. I am prescribed to do more frequent/aggressive physio (5x a day ROM, plus 2x strength/bands) until my next visit. 2.5 days in with this physio, shoulder ROM has increased in abduction/adduction plane, and very little if at all so far in flexion/extention. The exercises are painful when at my most extreme ROM, but I am not experiencing much pain between or after exercise sessions and have not been taking any anti-inflammatories/pain-killers recently.

My question: Is it beneficial at this stage to be applying ice to my shoulder and if so, when? Should I apply it after my exercises? I did not think to ask my PT and my written plan does not say whether I should apply ice or not.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

ryno21

Yes ice as much as possible especialy after you excersie for at least 15 mins. I'm suprised PT doesn't ice you after session ?

Agree - my PT won't let me leave unless she ices my shoulder.

Thank you woody and riderk. No, I've been there for about 5 sessions, no ice. I will however incorporate it consistently back into my post-exercises at home (15 min), so far feels better. I'm thinking some of the pain I felt around week 6.5 was perhaps from not icing enough, and then, as a result I eased up on exercises and overall use of shoulder (from 5x to 3x daily and less ROM till pain subsided). That could have contributed to the stiffness and "risk of frozen shoulder" which I am trying now to overcome.

I ice my shoulder after EVERY rehab session, whether at the PT's place, or at home. Sometimes I ice it down before leaving the PT shop, sometimes I do it back at my clinic (a 5 minute walk away) before I start up with clients for the day (i see my PT in the morning).

Exercise, then ice. For this type of recovery, it's critical.

Ice, ice, ice...it'll always do more good then harm. I ice after doing any shoulder activity and I'm not allowed to leave PT without icing, regardless if it's been a hard or light session. Plus, it's the cheapest pain reliever on the market.