Frozen Shoulder Treatment in London
Assessment and physiotherapy for painful, stiff and restricted shoulders.
If your shoulder has become painful and noticeably stiff, we can assess the problem and help you understand what to do next.
When should I consider physiotherapy for frozen shoulder?
You may want to have your shoulder assessed if pain and increasing stiffness are making normal everyday movements difficult.
People commonly come to us when:- Shoulder movement has become increasingly restricted
- Reaching overhead has become difficult
- Reaching behind the back is painful or limited
- Getting dressed has become more difficult
- Shoulder pain is regularly disturbing sleep
- The shoulder feels stiff in several different directions
- Symptoms have gradually worsened over time
- They have already been diagnosed with frozen shoulder and want help managing it
- Previous treatment has not produced the progress they expected
- They are unsure how much they should be moving or exercising the shoulder
What Does Frozen Shoulder Feel Like?
Frozen shoulder typically involves pain alongside a noticeable loss of shoulder movement.
The restriction often affects several movements rather than one specific painful action. Everyday tasks such as putting on a coat, fastening clothing, reaching into a cupboard or reaching behind your back can become increasingly difficult.
The shoulder can also be particularly uncomfortable at night.
Not every painful or stiff shoulder is a frozen shoulder, which is why the assessment is important.
What Happens At Your First Frozen Shoulder Appointment?
Understand your shoulder problem
We talk through when the pain and stiffness started, how the symptoms have changed, which movements have become difficult and how the problem is affecting sleep, work and everyday life.
Assess your shoulder
We assess how your shoulder moves, where movement becomes restricted and how the affected shoulder compares with the other side. We also assess strength and other relevant movements where appropriate.
Explain what we find
We explain whether your symptoms and assessment appear consistent with frozen shoulder and what that means for the next steps.
If we think something else may be contributing to your symptoms, we explain that too.
Start Treatment or Rehabilitation
Where appropriate, we can begin treatment or rehabilitation during the same appointment. The approach depends on how painful and restricted your shoulder currently is.
Build Your Plan
Before you leave, we explain what we recommend next, what you can do between appointments and how we will monitor changes in pain, movement and everyday function.
Movement gradually begins to improve.
These stages can be useful for understanding the general pattern of frozen shoulder, but real recovery does not always follow three perfectly defined phases.
Your treatment and exercise should therefore respond to how your shoulder is behaving rather than simply following a calendar.Do I Need an MRI or Scan for Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder can often be identified from your symptoms and how the shoulder moves during an assessment. A scan is not always required before treatment can begin.
In some cases, an X-ray, ultrasound, MRI or another medical opinion may be useful if your symptoms do not fit the expected pattern or there is another reason we want more information.
If you already have a scan or medical report, bring it with you and we can consider the findings alongside your assessment.
If we think further investigation would be useful after assessing your shoulder, we will explain why and discuss the next step with you.
How Do We Treat & Rehabilitate Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder does not look exactly the same in everybody, and the most appropriate approach can change depending on how painful and restricted the shoulder is.
Treatment and rehabilitation should therefore be adapted as the condition changes.When the shoulder is particularly painful, the priority may be finding manageable ways to keep it moving without repeatedly aggravating the symptoms.
As appropriate, treatment and exercise can be used to work on the shoulder movements that have become restricted.
The amount and intensity should reflect how the shoulder is responding rather than simply forcing more movement.
As movement and symptoms allow, rehabilitation can include strengthening exercises to help prepare the shoulder for everyday activity, work, exercise or sport.
As the shoulder improves, rehabilitation can become more challenging and increasingly reflect the movements and activities you want to return to.
Treatment options where appropriate
- Hands-on treatment
- Exercise rehabilitation
- Laser therapy
- EMS
- Infrared cupping
- Vibration therapy
Does Frozen Shoulder Have Different Stages?
Frozen shoulder is often described as moving through different phases as pain and stiffness change over time.
Early on, pain may be more prominent and shoulder movement may become increasingly restricted. Later, stiffness can become the main problem before movement gradually begins to improve.
Not everybody follows exactly the same pattern or timeline.
The important point for treatment is that what your shoulder needs can change over time.
We adapt your treatment and rehabilitation according to how your shoulder is behaving rather than using exactly the same approach throughout.
Our Approach to Frozen Shoulder
Determine whether your symptoms and restriction of movement appear consistent with frozen shoulder or whether another shoulder problem should be considered.
Help manage the immediate pain and functional limitations where appropriate.
Progress appropriate movement, exercise and strength according to how the shoulder is behaving.
Build towards the everyday activities, work, training or sport you want your shoulder to tolerate again.
What If My Frozen Shoulder Isn't Improving?
Frozen shoulder can be slow to change.
However, that does not mean ineffective treatment should simply continue indefinitely.
If your symptoms are severe or progress is not matching expectations, we reassess. That may involve:- Reviewing how pain, sleep and everyday function have changed
- Retesting shoulder movement
- Reconsidering whether the diagnosis still fits
- Adjusting the amount or type of exercise
- Discussing other treatment options where appropriate
- Considering medical or specialist referral if the presentation warrants it
- Options available within wider healthcare can include injection treatment and, for selected persistent cases, specialist procedures
Our role is not to keep you in physiotherapy regardless of what happens.
It is to help determine the appropriate next step.
Why Choose Fit2Function For Frozen Shoulder Treatment?
We have time to understand how the problem has developed, assess your shoulder movement and explain what we find.
Your care can combine treatment, movement and progressive rehabilitation depending on what your shoulder needs.
Frozen shoulder can change over time, so the approach should change as your pain, stiffness and movement change.
If your shoulder is not progressing as expected, we review the problem and adjust the plan rather than simply repeating the same treatment.
Meet Our Multidisciplinary Team Behind Your Recovery
Our Physiotherapy treatments are provided by our fully qualified Physiotherapists and practitioners. They are experienced professionals skilled in evidence-based rehabilitation techniques, ensuring your treatment is safe, effective, and tailored to meet your individual goals.
Frozen Shoulder FAQs
How long does it typically take to recover from frozen shoulder with treatment?
Recovery can take several months, depending on the stage and severity. With consistent treatment, many people see noticeable improvement within 3-6 weeks and full recovery typically occurs within 3-6 months.
Can frozen shoulder recur after successful treatment?
It’s uncommon for frozen shoulder to recur in the same shoulder, but it can sometimes develop in the opposite shoulder, especially in people with underlying risk factors such as diabetes or autoimmune conditions.
How do you differentiate frozen shoulder from other shoulder injuries?
We assess your range of motion, symptom history and perform specific clinical tests. Frozen shoulder causes both active and passive stiffness, whereas other injuries often allow passive movement even if painful.
Can frozen shoulder affect both shoulders at the same time?
It typically affects one shoulder at a time, but in rare cases, particularly in people with systemic health conditions both shoulders can be affected sequentially or even simultaneously.
Can frozen shoulder cause permanent damage if left untreated?
In most cases, frozen shoulder resolves over time, but without treatment, recovery may take longer and full range of motion may not return. Early intervention helps prevent long-term stiffness and shoulder joint dysfunction.