Frozen shoulder, medically known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that causes pain, stiffness and a significant reduction in movement of the shoulder. Everyday activities such as reaching overhead, putting on a coat, fastening clothing, brushing your hair or sleeping on the affected side can become difficult.

At The Chewton Chiropractor, we provide individualised assessment and treatment for people experiencing shoulder pain and restricted movement, including symptoms associated with frozen shoulder.

What is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder occurs when the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint becomes painful and increasingly stiff. There is still debate over what officially causes this condition, but recent research is suggesting it is multifactorial with a mix of musculoskeletal elements and systemic reasons. The condition commonly develops gradually and is often described in three stages:

• Freezing stage: Shoulder pain increases and movement gradually becomes more restricted.

• Frozen stage: Pain may begin to settle, but significant stiffness and loss of movement can remain.

• Thawing stage: Shoulder movement gradually improves over time.

Recovery can take months, and in some cases symptoms can persist for considerably longer. Early assessment can help determine what may be contributing to your symptoms and whether further medical investigation is appropriate.

Who Is More Likely to Develop Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder can affect anyone, but it is more commonly diagnosed in women and is particularly associated with middle age.

There is also an increased risk in people with certain medical conditions, including diabetes and thyroid disorders. Hormonal changes around menopause have also been investigated as a possible contributing factor, although the exact causes of frozen shoulder are not fully understood.

If you have previously experienced frozen shoulder in one shoulder, there is also an increased chance of developing symptoms in the other shoulder at some point.

Frozen Shoulder Symptoms

Common symptoms of adhesive capsulitis include:

• Persistent or aching shoulder pain

• Increasing stiffness in the shoulder

• Difficulty raising your arm

• Reduced ability to rotate your shoulder

• Pain when reaching behind your back

• Difficulty dressing or reaching overhead

• Shoulder pain that interferes with sleep

• A noticeable reduction in everyday shoulder function

Not all shoulder pain is caused by frozen shoulder. Other conditions can produce similar symptoms, which is why a thorough assessment is important.

How Is Frozen Shoulder Diagnosed?

At The Chewton Chiropractor, we begin with a detailed medical history followed by a thorough physical examination.

Your assessment may include:

• Evaluation of your shoulder movement and function

• Assessment of surrounding muscles and joints

• Neurological screening where appropriate

• Specialised orthopaedic tests

• Assessment of your posture and movement patterns

• Consideration of your symptoms, medical history and lifestyle

This helps us understand your presentation and determine whether your symptoms are consistent with frozen shoulder or may be related to another shoulder condition.

Where appropriate, we may recommend that you seek further assessment from your GP or another healthcare professional, particularly where imaging, medication or specialist investigation may be required.