Bones, joints & muscles
Frozen shoulder makes the joint painful and stiff, so everyday movements like reaching up or dressing become difficult. At our Opera House clinic we assess how your shoulder moves and build a gentle, step-by-step plan around what you can do today.
Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, happens when the tissue around the shoulder joint becomes irritated and tight. The joint then loses range, both when you try to move it and when someone else moves it for you.
It is often described in three overlapping stages: a painful stage, a stiff stage, and a stage where movement slowly returns. People do not all pass through these stages in the same way or at the same pace, so we first work out where you are.
It usually affects one shoulder at a time and can look like a rotator cuff problem or neck pain, so telling these apart is part of assessment.
We begin by listening: when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, how it affects your sleep and work, and any medical conditions or earlier injuries. Then we examine the shoulder and the areas around it.
There is no single treatment that suits everyone. Your plan depends on how painful and stiff the shoulder is today, and we adjust it as things change.
Manual techniques for the joint and the soft tissue around it, kept within your comfort and matched to how irritable the shoulder is.
Pain-limited range-of-motion work, often starting with supported movements and progressing as the shoulder allows.
As movement returns, we build control so the shoulder moves smoothly and the arm feels dependable again.
If assessment suggests tight fascia is adding to the restriction, we may use Fascial Manipulation as one part of your plan.
Read about this techniquePractical advice on sleeping positions, work setup and which activities to keep, adapt or pause for now.
If your doctor is considering medication or other options, we coordinate with that care.
Physiotherapy suits people whose shoulder has become gradually stiff and painful, and those whose shoulder has stiffened after an injury, surgery or time in a sling. If you are unsure what is causing your pain, an assessment is a good place to start. We make no promises of cure, and we will tell you if another kind of care is needed first.
In frozen shoulder the joint is stiff in every direction, even when someone else moves your arm for you. With a rotator cuff problem, passive movement is usually freer and the difficulty is more about pain or weakness when you lift the arm yourself. Examination helps us tell them apart.
It varies a great deal from person to person and depends on the stage your shoulder is in. We cannot promise a timeline, but we review your progress regularly and explain what we are seeing.
It should not be. Hands-on work and exercises are kept within what is tolerable, and we adjust straight away if something feels too much. Some mild stretching discomfort can be expected, and we will tell you what is normal.
Complete rest tends to add to stiffness. We usually advise staying gently active within your comfort and avoiding movements that sharply increase the pain. We will show you what suits your stage.
Not always. If you already have reports or scans, please bring them. We examine you first and will advise if anything further is needed or if you should see a doctor.
Diabetes is linked with frozen shoulder, so please tell us about it at your first visit. We take it into account when planning your care and may suggest that you share the findings with your doctor.
Your physiotherapist
Dr. Akshay Bandekar is the founder of The Posture Perfect Physiotherapy Clinic.
Qualifications: BPTh, MIAP, COMT
Advanced training: Visceral Manipulation (USA), Fascial Manipulation (Italy), Craniosacral Therapy (USA)
Meet the teamBook an assessment at our Opera House clinic and we will plan your care together.
This website provides general information, not a diagnosis or personal medical advice. A qualified healthcare professional should assess your symptoms and advise on suitable care. Seek urgent medical attention for sudden weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, chest pain, or other severe new symptoms.
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