Frozen shoulder
Get your shoulder moving again
Your shoulder aches at night, and reaching overhead or behind your back has become almost impossible. Frozen shoulder is treatable, and physiotherapy can help you get movement back.
Medicare, NDIS, DVA and private health funds accepted.
Understanding Frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, is pain and progressive stiffness caused by tightening of the capsule that surrounds your shoulder joint. It usually starts with pain, then movement becomes harder, until tasks like fastening a seatbelt or reaching into a back pocket become a problem.
Frozen shoulder follows a pattern over months rather than weeks, and treatment works best when it matches the stage you are in. Your physiotherapist focuses on settling pain, protecting the movement you still have, then rebuilding range and strength.
Who does it affect?
most common between the ages of 40 and 60, and more common in women.
How common is it?
[CONFIRM: affects roughly 2 to 5 in every 100 adults].
What is the recovery like?
varies from person to person, and is usually measured in months.
Who should I see for treatment?
physiotherapists at OnePointHealth.
What funding options are available?
Medicare, NDIS, DVA and private health funds accepted.
What is frozen shoulder?
Your shoulder sits inside a capsule, a sleeve of connective tissue that holds the joint together. In frozen shoulder, that capsule thickens, tightens and loses its normal slack, so the joint physically cannot travel through its full range.
It often begins without any clear injury. Pain builds over weeks, you start avoiding the movements that hurt, and the capsule tightens further. Turning your arm outwards is usually the first movement to go.
Contributing factors include:
Diabetes and thyroid conditions, which raise the risk considerably
A period of immobility after shoulder surgery, a fracture or time in a sling
Being aged 40 to 60, and being female
A previous frozen shoulder in the other shoulder
Symptoms of Frozen shoulder
A deep, constant ache in the shoulder and outer upper arm
Pain that is worse at night and makes lying on that side difficult
Stiffness reaching overhead, out to the side or behind your back
Loss of the ability to turn your arm outwards, such as opening a door
Trouble dressing, washing your hair, or reaching for a seatbelt
Sharp pain when the arm is moved suddenly or knocked
Your treatment plan comes out of your assessment, because the right approach in the painful phase is different from the right approach in the stiff phase.
What to expect at your first appointment
Tell us what is going on
How the pain started, what you can no longer do, how you are sleeping, and your health history.
A full assessment
Your physiotherapist measures your shoulder range actively and passively, tests strength, and checks your neck and shoulder blade.
A clear plan
You get an explanation of what stage you are in, what treatment will involve, and what to do between visits.
Review and adjust
Your range is remeasured at follow-up appointments so exercises can progress or ease back.
When to book an appointment
Your shoulder is becoming increasingly painful or stiff, particularly if you’re noticing difficulty with everyday movements such as reaching, dressing or lifting.
You cannot reach overhead or behind your back for work, dressing or driving
Rest, heat and over-the-counter pain relief have not changed anything
You are unsure whether this is frozen shoulder or another shoulder problem
Book an assessment if:
Looking after yourself at home
These general steps support your treatment rather than replace it.
Diabetes and thyroid conditions, which raise the risk considerably
A period of immobility after shoulder surgery, a fracture or time in a sling
Being aged 40 to 60, and being female
A previous frozen shoulder in the other shoulder
Meet the team who treat this
Behind every appointment is a team of practitioners who know each other, trust each other and work together for you. Across seven clinics and nine disciplines, our team shares expertise, coordinates treatment plans and celebrates your progress together.
Aimee Fuller
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Alicia Whiticker
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Amanda Banks
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Amanda Duggan
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Amy Meekings
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Anita Beerapu
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Benjamin Tucker
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Blake Cossar
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Bronte Tupper
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Chris Farrugia
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Corrina Aitken
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
David Logue
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Dean Gresser
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Emma Nassif
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Esha Sharma
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Fatima Hussaini
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Felicity Spencer-Davey
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Frankie Raikadroka
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Hannah Norrie
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Heather Edwards
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Isaac Vella
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Jarrah Nesbitt
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Jonathan Lopez
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Justin Hanna
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Kasey Collins
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Katrina Gauci
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Kennedy Touet
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Kristy Edwards
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Kyle Perry
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Lorna Nicastri
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Maja Bosic
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Marxy Koronel
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Matt Barton
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Michael Todd
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Mr Jeffery Jenkins FACPS
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Nathan Cavanagh
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Patrick Celeban
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Praise Khin
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Sarah Bonnici
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Shannon Smith
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Siobhan Kelly
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Taleisha Bozzi
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Trystan Singh
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Uty Kotwal
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Yoni Hochberg
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Zak Lloyd
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
EPC, DVA, NDIS and WorkCover welcome
Nearly half of our appointments are funded through Medicare, DVA, NDIS or WorkCover. We manage the paperwork so you can focus on your health.
NDIS
We support eligible NDIS participants across podiatry, physiotherapy, exercise physiology, dietetics and psychology, depending on your plan and goals. Eligibility and funding are set by your plan.
Medicare
Medicare may rebate podiatry, physiotherapy, exercise physiology and dietetics sessions when your GP refers you under an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) or Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan, and psychology sessions under a Mental Health Care Plan. The number of sessions is set by your plan.
DVA
Gold and White card holders can access DVA-funded care across our services with a valid referral.
WorkCover
If you have been injured at work, we accept WorkCover referrals for physiotherapy, exercise physiology and psychology, and manage the paperwork with your insurer, with a clear return-to-work plan.
Seven clinics across three regions
Find a clinic near you. Each location is staffed by local practitioners who know your community.
Penrith
Western SydneyOur largest centre, with our full range of services under one roof.
Ropes Crossing
Western SydneyPodiatry, at Ropes Crossing Village.
Blaxland
Blue MountainsPodiatry, physiotherapy, exercise physiology and group classes.
Springwood
Blue MountainsPodiatry, dietetics and a boutique footwear store.
Katoomba
Blue MountainsPodiatry, physiotherapy and dietetics, in a restored 1914 cottage.
Ryde
North ShorePodiatry, physiotherapy, dietetics and exercise physiology, with a footwear store and gait analysis.
Lindfield
North ShorePodiatry, with mobile podiatry across the North Shore and Northern Beaches.
Ready to get your shoulder moving again?
Book an assessment with a physiotherapist and start working on the range you have lost.
Frequently asked questions
Which health conditions increase the risk of frozen shoulder?
Diabetes is the strongest link, and people with diabetes develop frozen shoulder several times more often than the general population. Thyroid conditions, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s disease and Dupuytren’s contracture are also associated with it. Tell your physiotherapist about these conditions at your first visit, because they can influence how quickly your shoulder responds and how your exercise program is paced.
Can frozen shoulder start after surgery or time in a sling?
Yes. This is called secondary frozen shoulder, and it can follow shoulder surgery, breast surgery, a fracture, a stroke or any period where the arm was rested in a sling. The capsule tightens quickly when the joint stops moving through its full range. Early, gentle movement after surgery or injury is one reason post-operative rehabilitation matters.
Can frozen shoulder affect the other shoulder later?
It can. A proportion of people go on to develop frozen shoulder in the opposite shoulder, usually within a few years, and the risk is higher in people with diabetes. It is uncommon for the same shoulder to freeze twice. If your second shoulder starts aching and losing outward rotation, book an assessment early rather than waiting.
What is hydrodilatation, and does it help?
Hydrodilatation is a procedure where a radiologist injects fluid, usually saline with corticosteroid and local anaesthetic, into the shoulder capsule under imaging guidance to stretch it. It may reduce pain and improve range, particularly in the painful and stiff phases. It is done alongside physiotherapy, not instead of it, because the extra range needs exercise to be maintained.
When is manipulation under anaesthetic or capsular release considered?
These are surgical options generally reserved for shoulders that stay significantly restricted after months of physiotherapy and injection-based management. Manipulation under anaesthetic stretches the capsule while you are asleep; arthroscopic capsular release cuts the tight tissue. Both need structured rehabilitation straight afterwards to hold the range gained. Your GP or an orthopaedic specialist makes this decision with you.
Will my shoulder movement come back to normal?
Most people regain enough movement to return to normal daily activities, though some are left with a small loss of outward rotation or reaching behind the back. Recovery varies between individuals and is usually measured in months. Consistent exercise through the stiff and recovery phases is what tends to make the difference to the range you finish with.