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Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a genuine tightening of the joint capsule. It is distinguished from other shoulder problems by loss of movement in every direction, including when someone else moves your arm for you. It runs a long course — often eighteen months to three years through its phases — and while it does resolve, treatment meaningfully improves both the pain and the range along the way.

Related reading: cuff pain it is often confused with and other causes of shoulder night pain.

What causes it

  • Often no identifiable trigger at all, which people find hard to accept
  • A period of immobilisation after injury or surgery
  • Diabetes, which raises the risk substantially
  • Thyroid conditions
  • Most common between forty and sixty, and more so in women

What you might notice

  • A painful phase first, frequently worst at night, before the stiffness sets in
  • Loss of movement in all directions, particularly rotating the arm outwards
  • Range that does not improve even when someone else moves the arm
  • Difficulty reaching behind the back or fastening a bra
  • A gradual easing of pain as stiffness becomes the dominant problem

How we treat it

  • Matching the treatment to the phase — pushing hard into range early makes it worse
  • Pain relief and gentle movement during the painful phase
  • Progressive stretching and mobilisation once the stiff phase settles in
  • Strengthening through whatever range is available
  • Referral for a hydrodilatation or cortisone injection where pain is limiting everything
  • Honest information about timeframes, which matters more here than anywhere

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Symptoms overlap between conditions, so the right treatment depends on an assessment. If your pain followed a significant injury, is getting worse, or comes with numbness, weakness or unexplained weight loss, please see your GP.

Treatment depends entirely on which phase you are in

The same exercise that helps a stiff frozen shoulder will flare a painful one badly. Working out where you sit is the first and most important step.

Book a shoulder assessment Ask a question first

Or call us on (08) 7008 7566 — we see patients across Seaton, Modbury and Stepney.

Other shoulder conditions we treat

Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy Shoulder Impingement Shoulder Instability AC Joint Injury Shoulder Bursitis

Back to all shoulder conditions