Frozen Shoulder? How Physiotherapy Can Help You Unstick Your Mobility

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that affects the shoulder joint, leading to stiffness, pain, and severely reduced mobility. It typically develops gradually and worsens over time, eventually making even the simplest tasks—like combing hair or reaching for a shelf—challenging or even impossible.

Common among individuals aged between 40 and 60, frozen shoulder can significantly impair daily activities and quality of life. However, the right physiotherapy approach can offer considerable relief, restore mobility, and help individuals regain control over their shoulder function.

For those dealing with mobility challenges around Melbourne’s inner-west, services such as osteo Footscray have emerged as supportive options in managing musculoskeletal conditions, including frozen shoulder.

Understanding Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder occurs when the connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint—the capsule—becomes thickened and inflamed. Over time, this inflammation causes the capsule to tighten around the joint, leading to restricted movement and increasing discomfort.

This condition often unfolds in three stages:

Freezing Stage: Characterised by a gradual onset of pain, especially during movement. As the pain worsens, the shoulder loses range of motion.
Frozen Stage: Pain may begin to diminish, but stiffness persists. Movement becomes more restricted, and daily activities may be significantly affected.
Thawing Stage: Slowly, the shoulder regains range of motion, and the pain continues to ease.

The entire cycle can last from several months to a few years without intervention, with physiotherapy playing a key role in shortening recovery time and improving function.

What Causes Frozen Shoulder?

While the exact cause of frozen shoulder isn’t always clear, certain risk factors increase the likelihood of developing it:

Injury or Surgery: Shoulder immobility following an injury or surgical procedure can lead to frozen shoulder.
Diabetes: Individuals with diabetes are at greater risk, although the reasons remain under investigation.
Age and Gender: People aged 40 and above, particularly women, are more prone to this condition.
Other Health Conditions: Thyroid disorders, Parkinson’s disease, and cardiovascular conditions can also elevate the risk.

READ Your Guide to Finding the Right Anxiety Psychologist in Adelaide

Importantly, not everyone who becomes immobilised after surgery or injury will develop frozen shoulder, but maintaining shoulder movement during recovery can help minimise the risk.

The Role of Physiotherapy in Treating Frozen Shoulder

Physiotherapy is one of the most effective, non-invasive treatment methods for frozen shoulder. It is typically recommended once a formal diagnosis is made, often confirmed through physical examination and imaging (like an MRI or X-ray).

Here’s how physiotherapy can help throughout the different stages of frozen shoulder:

1. Pain Management

In the freezing stage, managing pain is the primary goal. Physiotherapists use a range of modalities to achieve this, including:

Heat and cold therapy to soothe inflamed tissues.
Ultrasound therapy to increase blood flow and promote healing.
Gentle mobilisation to maintain joint movement without causing further irritation.

Reducing pain can also enable patients to sleep better and engage more actively in daily tasks.

2. Restoring Mobility

As the condition transitions into the frozen stage, the emphasis shifts to improving the shoulder’s range of motion. This involves a carefully tailored program of:

Stretching exercises to improve flexibility in the joint capsule and surrounding muscles.
Manual therapy techniques to assist in joint mobilisation and release muscle tension.
Postural training to address compensatory movements that may develop due to stiffness.

This is also the stage where practitioners at physio Spotswood and similar clinics offer progressive, supervised rehabilitation plans to ensure steady and safe improvement.

3. Strengthening the Shoulder

During the thawing stage, once mobility begins to return, the focus of physiotherapy shifts to rebuilding strength. Exercises may target:

Rotator cuff muscles
Scapular stabilisers
Core muscles (to support upper body mechanics)

READ Diabetic Foot Care: Essential Tips for Prevention and Management

This comprehensive strengthening is crucial to prevent re-injury and ensure lasting results.

Tailored Rehabilitation Plans

No two cases of frozen shoulder are identical. That’s why physiotherapists design individualised treatment plans based on:

The stage of the condition
Pain tolerance
Existing range of motion
Personal lifestyle and functional goals

A program may begin with passive movements (guided by the therapist) and slowly transition into active movements (performed by the patient). This progression helps ensure optimal recovery without overstressing the joint.

Why Early Intervention Matters

Delayed treatment can prolong the condition’s duration and lead to long-term complications. Left unmanaged, frozen shoulder may result in:

Persistent weakness
Compensatory movement patterns leading to issues in the neck or back
Chronic pain or stiffness

Early physiotherapy intervention helps halt the progression and supports faster recovery. It also provides patients with education and tools to manage symptoms independently between sessions.

Home Exercises and Self-Management

Physiotherapists typically prescribe home exercises as part of the broader treatment strategy. Some commonly recommended movements include:

Pendulum exercises: Allow the shoulder to swing gently, promoting joint movement without strain.
Cross-body stretch: Helps increase flexibility of the posterior capsule.
Towel stretch: Promotes external rotation and improves range of motion.

Patients are also educated on posture correction, ergonomics, and activity modification to protect the healing shoulder.

Complementary Therapies

In addition to traditional physiotherapy techniques, some individuals benefit from complementary approaches such as:

Dry needling: To release tight muscle bands
Acupuncture: To stimulate circulation and relieve pain
Massage therapy: To reduce tension and promote relaxation

While these therapies are not a replacement for physiotherapy, they can be effective when used in combination.

READ Are Orthotics Effective for Flat Feet?

When Is Surgery Necessary?

In rare cases where physiotherapy and other conservative treatments don’t yield adequate results after many months, surgical intervention may be considered. The most common procedures include:

Manipulation under anaesthesia: The surgeon moves the shoulder to break up scar tissue while the patient is unconscious.
Arthroscopic capsular release: Minimally invasive surgery to cut through tight sections of the joint capsule.

These options are typically followed by an intensive physiotherapy program to maintain the new range of motion and prevent recurrence.

Choosing the Right Physiotherapist

Selecting a qualified and experienced physiotherapist is essential for effective treatment. Look for professionals who:

Specialise in musculoskeletal and shoulder conditions
Offer evidence-based techniques
Provide customised rehabilitation programs
Emphasise patient education and empowerment

Local clinics that focus on hands-on therapy and active rehabilitation are often well-equipped to treat adhesive capsulitis effectively.

Frozen shoulder is a frustrating and sometimes debilitating condition, but it’s far from permanent. With the help of physiotherapy, many people experience significant relief, improved mobility, and a return to normal activity without the need for surgery.

The journey through frozen shoulder can be long, but the right treatment plan—especially one that includes targeted physiotherapy—can make all the difference. Whether in the early stages of pain and stiffness or further along in recovery, physiotherapy offers structured, expert support that helps unstick your mobility and get you moving again.