Get it checked at Bodyline Health, Lower Plenty
We see patients from across the Diamond Valley, including Eltham, Greensborough, Montmorency, Rosanna and Heidelberg. No referral needed, free parking, onsite X-ray when clinically indicated and HICAPS claiming on the spot.
Written by Dr Phillip Mifsud, Chiropractor & Exercise Physiologist and founder of Bodyline Health, Lower Plenty. Based on Dr Phil’s own video and clinical experience.
Watch the video
Frozen Shoulder Explained
Dr Phil explains this in under two minutes.
What is frozen shoulder?
Every big, mobile joint in your body sits inside a capsule that holds a small amount of lubricating fluid. In frozen shoulder, the capsule around the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and starts to adhere to the bones. Dr Phil describes it as being like melted cheese sticking to the joint. The result is a shoulder that is painful and very limited in how far it can move, in every direction.
How do I know if it is really frozen shoulder?
Many patients come in saying they have a frozen shoulder. When we test it, most of them do not. A true frozen shoulder is relatively rare. If you can still lift your arm up reasonably well, it is very unlikely to be frozen shoulder. Rotator cuff problems, bursitis and referred pain from the neck are far more common causes of a sore shoulder.
Frozen shoulder most often affects people over 40, more commonly women, and often follows an injury, surgery, a period of immobility or an illness.
How long does frozen shoulder last?
It is slow. The adhesions can take around 12 to 18 months to release, and the shoulder usually goes through a painful phase, a stiff phase and then a gradual thawing phase. The good news is that most people get most of their movement back.
What treatment options are there?
Medical options
Your GP or a specialist may suggest a cortisone injection to settle the inflammation, or hydrodilatation, where fluid is injected into the joint to stretch the capsule.
Keeping the movement you have
Whichever medical option you choose, the part you cannot skip is maintaining movement and rebuilding strength. Simple, regular movements matter most:
- Walking your fingers up a wall, a little higher each day
- Gentle arm swings and pendulum movements
- Any movement that takes the arm overhead within a tolerable level of discomfort
Doing a little often, every day, is what protects the range you have while the capsule releases.
Hands-on care
Soft tissue work around the shoulder blade, neck and chest helps keep the surrounding muscles from tightening up and compensating, which is often where much of the day-to-day pain comes from.
Should I just Google it and rest?
No. Dr Phil’s advice is not to assume and not to self-diagnose from the internet. Get the shoulder properly assessed so you know what you are dealing with. The right exercises for a rotator cuff injury are different to those for frozen shoulder, and if you need a scan or a specialist referral, we will tell you.
Who at Bodyline Health can help with frozen shoulder?
Because Bodyline Health has several disciplines under one roof at 17 Main Road, Lower Plenty, your care can be shared between practitioners who talk to each other.
- Dr Phillip Mifsud (Chiropractor): assessment to confirm whether it is frozen shoulder, plus soft tissue work and a movement plan.
- Mary Fleming (Physiotherapist): structured rehabilitation to restore range and strength.
- Keryn Arrowsmith (Myotherapist): easing the compensating muscles around the neck and shoulder blade.
- Catherine Farchione (Acupuncture): acupuncture as part of pain management for some patients.
When to seek urgent medical help
Seek urgent medical care if shoulder pain comes on with chest pain, shortness of breath or sweating, or after a fall where you cannot lift the arm at all, or if the shoulder is hot, swollen and you feel unwell. In an emergency, call 000.
Further reading on frozen shoulder: Frozen shoulder (Healthdirect Australia).
Common questions
What does frozen shoulder feel like?
A deep, aching shoulder that becomes very stiff in every direction, making it hard to reach overhead, behind your back or out to the side. It is often worse at night.
If I can lift my arm, is it frozen shoulder?
Probably not. True frozen shoulder severely limits movement. If you can still lift your arm reasonably well, a rotator cuff or other shoulder problem is much more likely.
How long does frozen shoulder take to heal?
It commonly takes around 12 to 18 months for the adhesions to release, with most people regaining most of their movement.
What is the best exercise for frozen shoulder?
Any gentle movement that keeps the arm moving, especially overhead, such as walking your fingers up a wall. Little and often, every day, within tolerable discomfort.
Can I claim treatment on my health fund?
Yes. Bodyline Health has HICAPS on site, so you can claim on the spot if your extras cover includes chiropractic, physiotherapy or myotherapy.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for individual medical advice. If you are unsure, see your GP or book an assessment.
