Orthopaedic Physiotherapy
A frozen shoulder, known medically as adhesive capsulitis, causes a shoulder to become progressively stiff and painful, often to the point where reaching overhead or behind your back feels impossible. It can be slow and frustrating, but the right physiotherapy, matched to the stage you are in, can ease the pain and help restore movement.
Frozen shoulder tends to move through stages, and what helps in one stage can aggravate another. That is why generic stretching advice often backfires. Treatment that respects the stage you are in, gentle when the shoulder is irritable, more active as it settles, is the key to recovering movement without making the pain worse.
Physiotherapy can help if you notice:
In many people, a frozen shoulder appears without any clear cause. It is more common in people with diabetes or thyroid conditions, and it can follow a period of keeping the shoulder still, for example after an injury or surgery. The capsule around the joint becomes tight and inflamed, which limits movement. Understanding the cause helps us tailor your treatment.
Diagnosis is mainly clinical, based on your history and how your shoulder moves. We:
We identify which stage your shoulder is in, which shapes everything we do.
Gentle movement and pain management while the shoulder is most irritable, avoiding aggressive stretching.
As pain settles, progressive stretching and strengthening to regain range.
Hands-on techniques to improve mobility and ease stiffness.
Simple, stage-appropriate exercises to keep progress going between visits.
Stage matters, so gentle is the rule, especially while the shoulder is painful. These common exercises should stay within a comfortable range, and pain that lingers into the next day usually means you did too much.
Let your arm hang and gently swing it in small circles, using your body rather than your shoulder.
Using a stick or your other hand, gently guide the arm outwards to a comfortable limit.
Gently bring the affected arm across your chest to a mild, tolerable stretch.
A warm pack before stretching can make movement more comfortable.
Avoid forcing the shoulder. Aggressive stretching in the painful stage can flare symptoms and slow progress.
Less pain, especially at night. Gradually improving movement. The return of everyday actions like reaching, dressing, and lifting. And a clear, guided path through a condition that can feel confusing on your own.
Most frozen shoulders improve with a mix of time, physiotherapy, and pain management. In the painful early stage, some people find a corticosteroid injection helps calm inflammation so that therapy is more comfortable. Surgery, such as manipulation under anaesthetic or a capsular release, is rarely needed and is usually considered only when a shoulder stays stiff despite months of conservative care. We will help you weigh these options with your doctor.
It is only fair to be honest here. A frozen shoulder can take many months to resolve, and in some cases longer, even with treatment, because of the natural course of the condition. Physiotherapy does not force it to resolve overnight, but it can ease your pain, protect your movement, and support a better functional recovery along the way. We will set realistic expectations from the start.
To support recovery and the other shoulder:
When to get it checked. See a doctor if your shoulder became stiff suddenly after an injury, if you cannot move it at all, or if there is significant swelling or deformity, as these suggest a different problem that needs assessment.
Questions
It varies widely and often takes many months. Physiotherapy helps manage pain and restore movement through that process rather than promising a quick cure.
Many frozen shoulders do improve over time, but this can take a long time and leave lasting stiffness. Physiotherapy can ease symptoms and support better recovery along the way.
It depends on the stage. Aggressive stretching too early can worsen pain, which is why stage-appropriate treatment matters.
Yes, frozen shoulder is more common in people with diabetes and some thyroid conditions. We take that into account in your plan.
Many people improve with physiotherapy alone. Some benefit from other medical treatments, and we will refer you appropriately if that would help.
No. Pushing harder often makes the painful stage worse. Gentle, stage-appropriate movement done consistently is what helps, and forcing the shoulder tends to slow recovery.
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A frozen shoulder is frustrating, but you do not have to navigate it alone. An assessment will tell us which stage you are in and how physiotherapy can help.