Frozen Shoulder Treatment & Rehabilitation

What Causes Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder often develops without a clear injury, although it can sometimes follow trauma, surgery or a period when the shoulder has not been moving normally.

Factors associated with a higher likelihood of developing frozen shoulder include:

• Increasing age, particularly in middle age and later life
• Diabetes
• Previous shoulder injury or surgery
• Periods of reduced shoulder movement
• Certain other medical conditions

In many cases, however, there is no single obvious cause.

What Does Frozen Shoulder Feel Like?

Frozen shoulder often develops gradually. Common symptoms include:

• Increasing shoulder pain
• Progressive loss of movement
• Difficulty reaching overhead
• Difficulty reaching behind your back
• Pain or stiffness when dressing
• Difficulty putting on a coat or fastening clothing
• Pain when lying on the affected shoulder
• Reduced ability to work, exercise or perform everyday activities

The restriction of movement is usually more marked than with many other shoulder conditions.

Does Frozen Shoulder Have Different Stages?

Frozen shoulder is often described as progressing through several overlapping stages rather than following an exact timetable.

During the early stage, pain may be the most noticeable symptom and movement gradually becomes more restricted. Later, stiffness may become the dominant problem, with pain sometimes becoming less severe. As recovery progresses, movement can gradually improve.

The duration and severity of each stage vary considerably from person to person, so the condition does not always follow a predictable pattern.

How Is Frozen Shoulder Diagnosed?

Diagnosis is usually based on your symptoms, medical history and physical examination.

One of the key findings is a restriction of both active and passive shoulder movement, particularly rotation of the arm.

Your assessment may include:

• Active shoulder movement
• Passive shoulder movement
• Shoulder rotation
• Strength testing where appropriate
• Examination of the neck and upper back if needed
• Assessment for other possible causes of shoulder pain and stiffness

Imaging is not always necessary. However, X-ray or other investigations may sometimes be used to exclude other causes of a stiff or painful shoulder, depending on the history and examination findings.

How Is Frozen Shoulder Treated?

Treatment depends on the severity of pain, the amount of stiffness and the stage of the condition.

Management may include:

• Advice about keeping the shoulder moving within a tolerable range
• Gentle mobility exercises
• Progressive stretching when appropriate
• Mobilisation or manual therapy to help improve movement
• Exercises to maintain or improve shoulder strength
• Gradual progression of function as movement improves

The amount and intensity of treatment should be matched to the stage of the condition. Aggressive stretching during a very painful stage may aggravate symptoms rather than help.

Can Chiropractic Treatment Help Frozen Shoulder?

Manual treatment may sometimes be used to help improve shoulder and surrounding movement, but it should form part of a broader management plan rather than being presented as a guaranteed solution.

Exercise, movement and gradual rehabilitation are important parts of treatment. Where appropriate, treatment may also address restrictions in the neck or upper back if these are contributing to how comfortably the shoulder moves.

The aim is to improve function and support recovery while respecting the irritability and stage of the condition.

Should I Stretch a Frozen Shoulder?

Stretching can be helpful, but the amount and intensity need to be appropriate.

In a very painful or irritable phase, forceful stretching can sometimes make symptoms worse. Gentle movement within an acceptable range is often more appropriate initially.

As pain settles and the shoulder becomes less irritable, stretching and mobility exercises can usually be progressed gradually.

How Long Does Frozen Shoulder Take to Improve?

Frozen shoulder can be a slow condition to recover from. Symptoms often persist for many months and, in some people, considerably longer.

Recovery varies depending on the severity of the condition, general health, associated medical factors and how the shoulder progresses over time.

Rather than promising a fixed recovery time, we monitor pain, movement and function and adapt the rehabilitation programme as the shoulder changes.

When Should Frozen Shoulder Be Investigated Further?

Further assessment may be appropriate if the diagnosis is uncertain, the restriction developed after significant trauma, symptoms are worsening unexpectedly or progress is not occurring as anticipated.

You should seek prompt medical advice if shoulder pain is accompanied by severe swelling, redness, fever or feeling seriously unwell.

Chest pain, breathlessness, sweating or unexplained pain spreading into the arm or jaw requires urgent medical attention.

Frozen Shoulder and Shoulder Pain Treatment

Frozen shoulder is one possible cause of shoulder pain and stiffness. You can read about other causes, assessment and treatment options on our Shoulder Pain Treatment & Chiropractic Care page.

If you would like an assessment, chiropractic care is available at our
Milton Keynes Chiropractic Clinic,
Northampton Chiropractic Clinic and
Aylesbury Chiropractic Clinic.

What Happens at My First Appointment?

We will discuss how your symptoms developed, how the shoulder is affecting your daily activities and your medical history before examining the shoulder.

We will assess movement, stiffness and strength and explain whether the findings are consistent with frozen shoulder or whether another cause may be more likely.

If further investigation, medical assessment or referral would be more appropriate, we will explain this and advise you on the next step.