Understanding It
What Frozen Shoulder Is
The shoulder joint sits inside a capsule of connective tissue. In frozen shoulder that capsule becomes inflamed, thickened and contracted, which physically restricts how far the joint can move.
The distinguishing feature is loss of movement in all directions, including when someone else moves your arm for you. That is different from most shoulder problems, where movement is limited by pain/weakness/inflammation rather than by the joint itself.
It typically runs through three overlapping stages:
- Freezing: increasing pain, movement gradually reducing. Often the most painful phase. Weeks to months.
- Frozen: pain eases somewhat, stiffness dominates. Movement is markedly restricted. Months.
- Thawing: movement gradually returns. Months to a year or more.
The full course commonly takes one to three years, though this varies considerably between individuals.
How does it usually present?
- Shoulder pain that builds over weeks, often worse at night
- Progressive difficulty reaching overhead, out to the side, and behind the back
- Trouble with dressing, hair washing, seatbelts and reaching into a back pocket
- Movement restricted even when the arm is moved passively
- Usually one shoulder, though the other may be affected later
- No clear injury in many cases
When to Act
When to Seek Help
See a physiotherapist or your GP early if you notice progressive shoulder stiffness, particularly if you have diabetes or a thyroid condition. Early assessment helps confirm the diagnosis and set expectations.See your GP if you have not had blood glucose checked recently, as undiagnosed diabetes is sometimes first picked up this way.
Seek urgent medical care if you have:
- A red, hot, swollen shoulder with fever or feeling unwell — possible joint infection
- Shoulder pain with chest tightness, breathlessness, sweating or nausea — possible cardiac event
- Sudden inability to move the arm after a fall or injury — which may indicate fracture or dislocation
Causes & Risk
What Causes It and Who Is at Risk
Often no trigger is identified. It can follow a period of shoulder immobilisation after injury or surgery.
Risk is notably higher in people with diabetes, and also increased with thyroid disorders, cardiovascular disease, and after prolonged immobilisation. It is most common between 40 and 60, and more common in women. Having had it in one shoulder increases the likelihood of the other being affected.
How We Help
How Our Team Can Help
Our physiotherapists confirm the pattern, identify which stage you are in, and set treatment accordingly. This matters, because aggressive stretching during the painful freezing stage can aggravate symptoms, while gentle movement during the frozen and thawing stages is where progress is made.
We are honest about the timeframe. Frozen shoulder is a condition where realistic expectations and consistency matter more than intensity, and where treatment aims to manage pain and maintain function through a long natural course rather than shorten it dramatically.
Where symptoms are severe, we may refer back to your GP to discuss options such as a hydrodilatation or corticosteroid injection, which some people find helpful in the painful phase.
Starting Out
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Your clinician will ask about onset, night pain and which movements are affected, and will check your medical history including diabetes and thyroid function. They will measure your shoulder movement actively and passively. The passive restriction is the key finding.
You will get a clear explanation of the stage you are in, what to expect over coming months, initial treatment, and a home program suited to that stage.
Ready to book?
Ready to get started?
Contact inOne Healthcare on 1300 765 456 or submit a referral online. Frozen shoulder is most commonly managed by our Physiotherapy team.
info@inonehealthcare.com.au
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