Understanding Frozen Shoulder: What You Need to Know
Frozen Shoulder (also known as Adhesive Capsulitis) is a condition that causes severe stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint.
What makes it unique is that both active (your own movement) and passive (someone else moving it) range of motion are equally restricted.
At Fleurieu Coast Physio, we see a lot of shoulder pain — but few conditions are as painful, limiting, and frustrating as Frozen Shoulder.
It’s a condition that can take over your life, making everyday tasks like reaching overhead, dressing, or even sleeping a real challenge.
What Is Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen Shoulder (also known as Adhesive Capsulitis) is a condition that causes severe stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. What makes it unique is that both active (your own movement) and passive (someone else moving it) range of motion are equally restricted.
The root cause of Frozen Shoulder is an inflammatory process that affects the capsule of the shoulder joint, leading to thickening, fibrosis, and contracture. This significantly reduces joint space and affects your ability to:
● Reach overhead
● Reach out to the side
● Reach behind your back
The pain can be intense, often described as deep, constant, and exhausting —
and for many people, it’s one of the most painful musculoskeletal conditions they’ve experienced.
Diagnosing Frozen Shoulder
Diagnosing a Frozen Shoulder is usually straightforward when a thorough assessment is done.
The key features are:
● Equal loss of both active and passive shoulder movement (usually into rotation and elevation).
● Significant pain, especially at the end of available movement.
● Minimal weakness on resisted muscle testing.
● A normal shoulder X-ray (this is important to rule out arthritis and other conditions).
The combination of patient history, clinical testing, and imaging helps us confirm the diagnosis.
The Recovery Timeline
Frozen Shoulder often follows a predictable pattern:
1. Freezing Stage (2–9 months)
Pain develops, and shoulder movement starts to become limited.
2. Frozen Stage (4–12 months)
Pain may ease slightly, but stiffness remains severe.
3. Thawing Stage (12–24 months)
Gradual return of movement and function.
It’s important to know that recovery can take time — sometimes up to two years — but the majority of people do recover well.
The Role of Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy plays an important role at every stage of Frozen Shoulder — but especially in the early phases.
In the early stages, when pain is often at its worst, our role as physios is less about hands-on treatment and more about:
● Education — helping you understand the condition, what to expect, what to do, and just as importantly, what to avoid.
● Support — think of us as your personal cheerleader through the painful and frustrating “freezing” stage. Having guidance during this time can make a huge difference in your recovery.
● Maintaining movement — as your shoulder stiffens, other areas like your neck and upper back often compensate, which can create new aches and pains. We’ll work to keep these areas moving well to reduce secondary issues.
As pain settles, we begin introducing gentle exercises, progressing toward eccentric loading exercises, which have shown promising results in improving movement and reducing muscle guarding. These exercises are usually easy to do at home, and many patients find them less painful and more effective than traditional stretching or manual therapy. The goal is always to help you regain function, reduce pain, and empower you to take an active role in your recovery.
Final Thoughts
Frozen Shoulder can feel like a long, difficult journey — but it does get better. With the right treatment approach and a clear understanding of the condition, you can regain movement, strength, and confidence in your shoulder.
If you’ve been living with shoulder pain and stiffness, our experienced physio team is here to help.
Book an appointment today and let’s start your recovery.
Written by:
Michelle O’Leary
Principal Physio
Fleurieu Coast Physio
