Frozen Shoulder Treatment

Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a condition in which the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and then tightens, causing pain followed by progressive stiffness. It typically moves through three stages: a painful freezing stage, a stiff frozen stage, and a gradual thawing stage as movement returns.

It most commonly affects people between 40 and 60, and is more common in those with diabetes or thyroid conditions, or after a period of shoulder immobilisation such as surgery or injury. Because the treatment that helps most depends on the stage you are in, an accurate diagnosis matters. At Lower Limb Clinic our clinicians assess the shoulder clinically, with in-house diagnostic ultrasound available to rule out rotator cuff pathology and other causes of a stiff, painful shoulder.

Full-body physiotherapy is now available at Lower Limb Clinic in Belfast. Book online to see our physiotherapist.

Treatment is matched to the stage of the condition. In the painful early stage, the priority is settling pain: activity modification, gentle movement within tolerance, and advice on sleep positions. Where pain is severe, a corticosteroid injection can be effective at this stage, and we will advise and arrange the appropriate referral where indicated. As the shoulder moves into the stiff and thawing stages, treatment shifts to progressive stretching, joint mobilisation, and strengthening to restore range and function. Throughout, we monitor progress against clear milestones rather than leaving you to wait it out alone.