Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) causes the shoulder joint to gradually become stiff and painful, limiting everyday movements like reaching overhead or fastening clothes behind your back. It most often affects adults between 40 and 60, and is more common in people with diabetes or after a period of shoulder immobility.
Common Symptoms
- Gradual onset of deep, aching shoulder pain
- Increasing stiffness when reaching overhead or behind the back
- Pain that disturbs sleep, especially when lying on the affected side
- Noticeable loss of shoulder movement in all directions
- Difficulty with daily tasks like dressing or combing hair
How Physiotherapy Helps
- Gentle manual therapy to maintain and gradually restore joint movement.
- Guided stretching and mobility exercises matched to your stage of recovery.
- Pain-relief techniques including heat, dry needling where appropriate, and activity advice.
- Progressive strengthening as movement returns, so the shoulder regains full function.
What to Expect
Your first visit includes a full assessment. Most treatment plans run 4–12 sessions depending on severity.
Frozen shoulder typically moves through three stages — freezing, frozen, and thawing — over many months, sometimes 12 to 18 months in total. Physiotherapy cannot rush this natural course, but it can ease pain, protect the movement you have, and help you recover as fully and quickly as your shoulder allows.
FAQs
Will my shoulder fully recover?
Most people regain a very good level of movement and function, though the process takes patience. Starting physiotherapy early helps preserve movement during the stiff phase and rebuild strength during the thawing phase.
Should I push through the pain when stretching?
No. Aggressive stretching can irritate a frozen shoulder and slow recovery. We guide you to work within tolerable discomfort, progressing steadily as the joint allows.
What causes frozen shoulder?
The exact cause is often unknown. It is linked to inflammation and thickening of the shoulder capsule, and risk is higher with diabetes, thyroid conditions, or after keeping the shoulder still for a long period.