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Clients' experiences of frozen shoulder and its treatment with Bowen technique

https://doi.org/10.1054/ctnm.2002.0645Get rights and content

Abstract

Bowen technique (BT) is a therapy that uses a light, non-invasive pressure applied to specific and prescribed locations throughout the body to trigger the body's own self-healing powers. Frozen shoulder is a painful condition associated with a reduced range of motion in the affected shoulder that is often resistant to conventional treatment. Within this paper, the qualitative findings from a larger study are presented and 20 participants' experiences of BT, their comparisons with other interventions, and their satisfaction with the therapy are explored. Overwhelmingly, BT was experienced as being gentle, relaxing and non-invasive and of help with significantly eliminating and improving the symptoms associated with frozen shoulder.

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      Each treatment programme is personalised and determined following assessment. Reports following treatment have included improvements in; pain, range of motion (ROM), oedema, heart rate, respiration, injury rates and functional recovery (Whittaker et al., 1997; Kinnear and Baker, 1999; Carter, 2002; Esson and Godfrey, 2002; Rattray, 2002; Rattray and Godfrey, 2002; Baker, 2008; Godfrey, 2008; James, 2008). Despite a growing body of evidence, there is a paucity of quantitative research to support such claims.

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