Frozen Shoulder Research Study

This study was conducted under the guidance of Dr Bernie Carter PhD of the Metropolitan University of Manchester, who is our lead researcher in the UK. She is a well-respected researcher and lecturer in the field of pain research.
We used a mixed method, case study approach, based in the north-west using 5 experienced Bowen therapists. We obtained approval from the Lancaster Medical Ethics Committee which allowed a local GP to send medically diagnosed cases forward for treatment.

The treatment of individuals was assessed and Dr Carter catalogued the results with the help of the lead therapist in the project, Rick Minnery. A summary of the results is shown below and the complete study can be obtained from the Bowen Association office.

Frozen Shoulder Research
Dr. Bernie Carter & Rick Minery

The intention of this study was to evaluate Bowen Technique in the treatment of frozen shoulder.
A mixed method, case study (Stake, 1995) approach was adopted as the best means of generating appropriate data. Quantitative data was generated in relation to physical functioning, mobility, levels of pain experienced, past medical history and specific shoulder pain history. Qualitative data was generated in relation to individual clients' experiences of Bowen therapy and their responsiveness, or otherwise, to the therapy. Data was collected through specially developed consultation sheets, self-report pain diaries, self-complete questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with clients at specific stages within their treatment.
20 participants.

OUTCOMES

A high level of satisfaction with the therapy, a commitment to using Bowen in the future should they require it for another episode of frozen shoulder or other condition, and the intention to recommend the therapy and therapist to friends and family.

A significant improvement in shoulder mobility and associated function for all participants, with 70% of participants regaining full mobility (equal to the non-affected side) by the end of the treatment.

There were markedly reduced pain intensity scores and pain quality descriptors for all participants, although some participants recorded scores of 1-3 that they described as a slight ache to a mild pain. Participants at the end of the study no longer used the intense and invasive pain descriptors.

Bowen cannot, from this study, claim to be 100% successful, but it demonstrated a significant improvement for participants, even those with a very longstanding history of frozen shoulder. For the majority of participants it provided a good outcome particularly in relation to improved mobility.

All participants experienced improvement in their daily activities. None of the participants reported that their pain was having a severe impact on their daily activities, and there was a decrease in the reports of mild and moderate impact by the end of the treatment.

For the majority of participants (even those with a long standing problem) it provided a good outcome particularly in relation to improved mobility. In terms of the outcome measures used in other studies - success rate, mobility, pain and functional status - Bowen can be seen to be a positive intervention and certainly one which participants in the study evaluated as being highly satisfactory.

Post Mastectomy Arm Restriction Research

"I just want to be able to fasten my bra and do my own hair again!"

"This statement affected me very deeply. It was the beginning of the Journey of discovery I have found myself part of and I would love to share some of my thoughts with you." Angela Cannon.

Read more on this remarkable research undertaken by Angela Cannon, a UK Bowen Therapist.

"I just want to be able to fasten my bra and do my own hair again!"

This statement affected me very deeply. It was the beginning of the Journey of discovery I have found myself part of and I would love to share some of my thoughts with you.

As my mind reflects back over the events of these past few months and my involvement with the Boston Breast Care Self Help and Support Group, I have a sense of great satisfaction and pride in what has been achieved during the Feasibility Study we carried out in Boston, Lincolnshire.

• This has been an opportunity to learn, grow and to develop teamwork skills, something that is quite difficult to achieve as a Practitioner working alone in my private clinic.
• We have been able to provide an effective treatment for members of this particular Group to improve their quality of life after breast surgery.
• Finally we have produced a piece of work, which establishes the effectiveness of this gentle non-invasive modality, The Bowen Technique, to improve mobility after breast surgery.

I had come to expect this from those who I treated regularly for shoulder problems but to find the same results after surgery was very surprising.
From these conversations the spark of an idea became a Research Project and then a Feasibility Study, the results of which have pleasantly surprised us all.

MEASURING DEVICES

One of the key aspects of the Research Project and subsequently the Feasibility Study was finding a method of comparing the arm and neck mobility before treatment had begun and after the final treatment.
We know, as Practitioners, so many times the Patient comes to see us with very limited movement and then after a Treatment they quite easily lift their arms much further. We can visually see the difference, however, a measuring device, of some kind was required now as we needed to prove a measurable change, to have something to record for the Study. The design was pondered at length.
Richard Waller of the Foot and Back Clinic, is a very skilled Podiatrist and Surgeon specializing in foot problems. He also lectures on a Degree Course at Nottingham University. I have been the Reflexologist at his Clinic for many years and have been invited to observe operations and assessments on several occasions watching Richard measure using a variety of instruments. He supplied me with a device called a Gravity Goniometer, a fancy name for an angle measurer. It has a pointer, which is pulled down by gravity and because of the involvement of gravity it can be considered very accurate.
This time we measured using landmarks on the body and we could say we were measuring the bio-mechanical movement of the shoulder joint. The same person was measured in the same way three times and on three different occasions and allowing for human changes. We found the device to be very accurate.

RESULTS

The figures supplied by the Treatment Group at the third and final meeting do show 83% of those surveyed felt their arm and shoulder mobility had improved completely with 66% stating their neck rotation had also completely improved. The women report that 66% felt their sleep pattern was completely improved and all the women surveyed no longer experienced any difficulty fastening bras or brushing their hair. Three years on these figures were still accurate.

Treatment Group Range of Movement Developments

Control Group Range of Movement Developments