Frozen Shoulder

What is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder, medically known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition where the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed, thickened, and tight. This leads to restricted shoulder movement and persistent pain.

The shoulder joint normally has a flexible capsule that allows a wide range of motion. In frozen shoulder, inflammation causes the capsule to tighten and develop adhesions (scar-like tissue), limiting movement.

Frozen shoulder usually develops slowly and may progress through three stages:

Freezing stage Pain gradually increases and shoulder movement becomes more restricted.

Frozen stage Pain may reduce slightly, but stiffness becomes more severe and movement is significantly limited.

Thawing stage Shoulder movement gradually improves as the joint begins to recover.

Without treatment, this condition can take months or even years to fully resolve.

How Does Frozen Shoulder Happen?

The exact cause of frozen shoulder is not always clear, but several factors may increase the risk.

Common causes and risk factors include:

• Shoulder injury or surgery
• Prolonged shoulder immobilisation
• Diabetes
• Thyroid disorders
• Age (most common between 40–60 years)
• Previous shoulder inflammation

The condition often develops when the shoulder joint becomes irritated and the capsule surrounding the joint becomes inflamed.

What Are the Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder usually develops gradually and symptoms worsen over time.

Common symptoms include:

• Persistent shoulder pain
• Gradual loss of shoulder movement
• Stiffness in the shoulder joint
• Difficulty lifting the arm overhead
• Pain when reaching behind the back
• Pain that worsens at night
• Weakness in the shoulder muscles
• Muscle spasms around the shoulder
• Occasional clicking in the joint

Pain is often felt deep within the shoulder and may radiate down the outer upper arm.

What Should I Do If I Have Frozen Shoulder?

If you suspect frozen shoulder, it is important to seek assessment from a physiotherapist or healthcare professional.

Early diagnosis and treatment can help:

• Reduce pain
• Prevent worsening stiffness
• Restore shoulder mobility faster

A healthcare professional may perform physical examination and imaging tests (such as X-rays or ultrasound) to rule out other shoulder conditions.

Physiotherapy Treatment for Frozen Shoulder

Physiotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for frozen shoulder and focuses on restoring movement and reducing pain.

At ACE Physio Sports in Singapore, physiotherapists create personalised treatment plans designed to gradually improve shoulder function.

Physiotherapy treatment may include:

• Range-of-motion exercises to improve shoulder flexibility
• Stretching exercises to reduce capsular tightness
• Strengthening exercises for shoulder and upper back muscles
• Postural correction training
• Manual therapy techniques to improve joint movement
• Soft tissue therapy to reduce muscle tension
• Electrotherapy to manage pain and inflammation
• Acupuncture in selected cases

Patients are also given home exercise programmes to continue rehabilitation between sessions.

In some cases, a corticosteroid injection may be recommended to reduce inflammation and improve mobility.

What Should I Avoid With Frozen Shoulder?

Certain activities may worsen symptoms during recovery.

Patients should avoid:

• Ignoring persistent shoulder pain
• Forcing painful shoulder movements
• Sudden overhead lifting
• Heavy lifting with the affected arm
• Delaying physiotherapy treatment

Early treatment can significantly shorten recovery time.

Can There Be Long-Term Effects?

Frozen shoulder often improves over time, but recovery can take several months to a year without treatment.

Possible long-term effects may include:

• Persistent shoulder stiffness
• Reduced shoulder mobility
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty performing overhead activities

With early physiotherapy and consistent rehabilitation, most patients make a full recovery and regain normal shoulder function.

Why Choose ACE Physio Sports

At ACE Physio Sports – Singapore, our physiotherapists specialise in shoulder injuries, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and sports physiotherapy.

Our clinic provides:

• Experienced shoulder physiotherapy specialists
• Personalised rehabilitation programmes
• Evidence-based treatment approaches
• Structured recovery plans for shoulder conditions

Conveniently located near East Coast Road, we treat patients from Marine Parade, Katong, Joo Chiat, Siglap, and Bedok.

Book an Appointment

To arrange an appointment, please call +65 81535374 or visit acephysiosport.com