If a stiff, painful shoulder is stopping you reaching, dressing or sleeping on that side, our award-winning team of chiropractors in Worcester can assess your shoulder and, in almost all cases, start treatment at the same visit — usually with an appointment within 1–2 days. Frozen shoulder is slow to settle on its own, so the sooner it is correctly diagnosed and managed, the better.
Book a Shoulder Assessment Call 01905 428956
★ 5.0 from 163 Google reviews · Appointments usually within 1–2 days · No GP referral needed · GCC-registered chiropractors
“Geof has been treating my frozen shoulder for the last 7 weeks. I was in a lot of discomfort and had little movement in one arm. I am so pleased that I have gone from attending 2 appointments per week to now 1 appointment per month. My arm is so much better — Geof is an amazing chiropractor, treating the problem, giving exercise advice and putting you at ease. I will continue to go for treatment and fully recommend Geof.”
— Julie C., Google review
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a painful condition in which movement of the shoulder dramatically reduces. This is a long standing condition, often lasting up to two years.
Usually only one shoulder is affected, however, if you have had frozen shoulder before you are at an increased risk of it affecting the other shoulder at a later date.
The condition is characterised by gradually increasing pain and stiffness affecting the whole shoulder, usually with no attributable cause but occasionally with preceding minor injury. This typically occurs between the ages of 40 and 60, and affects women more frequently than men.
Adhesive capsulitis affects approximately 3% of the population. People with diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis are at elevated risk of frozen shoulder.
There are three stages of adhesive capsulitis;
- Freezing Stage – gradually increasing pain and decreasing mobility, lasting approximately 8 months
- Frozen – severely limited shoulder mobility, although not as painful as freezing stage. Lasts approximately 6 months.
- Thawing – Slow improvements in mobility over approximately 12 months.
Rotator cuff injuries, trapped nerves, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions can all be confused with adhesive capsulitis, leading to over diagnosis of frozen shoulder. It is therefore essential that frozen shoulder is diagnosed by a specialist such as a chiropractor or orthopaedic surgeon.
Because so many shoulder problems can imitate a true frozen shoulder, getting the right diagnosis matters. If your pain actually spreads down from your neck, or comes with pins and needles or numbness into the arm and hand, the cause may be a trapped nerve or a problem in the neck rather than the shoulder capsule itself — and these are assessed and treated quite differently.
There are several treatment options for people with adhesive capsulitis, depending on the stage at which it is diagnosed and the severity of symptoms.
Manual therapy is successful at restoring range of movement and improving pain, however frozen shoulder can be slow to respond and patients may require treatment until the “freezing” and “frozen” stages have passed. Typically treatment involves stretching and mobilisation of the shoulder.
“Thank you for sorting out my shoulder and arm. Beth was very professional and took time to explain the problem I had and how it could be resolved. Very pleased with the outcome of the treatment. Would recommend this clinic.”
— Karen M., Google review
A key benefit of manual therapy for adhesive capsulitis is to maintain the function of other joints and muscles that are affected in a compensatory manner in response to the frozen shoulder.
Corticosteroid injection can provide pain relief from adhesive capsulitis and may reduce the duration of symptoms. It does not, however, improve range of movement and therefore should only be used in conjunction with manual therapy. Repeated corticosteroid injections increase the risk of permanent damage to tissues of the shoulder and no more than three should be offered.
Hydrodilation (or capsular distension) is one of the more recent methods of treating adhesive capsulitis. A large volume of fluid containing an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid is injected into the joint capsule causing it to bulge. This is a minimally invasive way of breaking adhesions within the shoulder, thereby increasing range of movement and improving pain. Whilst very effective, this procedure still leaves some stiffness and discomfort. This is likely due to compensations affecting other tissues around the shoulder. Of note, the substitution of hyaluronic acid in place of corticosteroid provides better results and negates the risk of damage from steroid use.
Surgical intervention has also been used in the past. There has been very little research published into whether this provides effective relief of symptoms and the use of this technique is decreasing as it is surpassed by improvements in manual therapy and capsular distension.
Manipulation under anaesthesia should no longer be offered. This is an archaic treatment method in which patients are anaesthetised whilst their shoulder joint is manipulated in a way that would not be tolerable awake. This very successfully breaks adhesions within the shoulder but causes inflammation which results in rapid replacement of adhesions. This method also risks injury to other structures and tissues around the shoulder.
It is important to note that adhesive capsulitis is a chronic (long-lasting) condition and that no treatment will provide immediate or complete relief overnight. Treatment techniques purporting to be cures for frozen shoulder are invariably over stating their benefits.
Book Your Frozen Shoulder Appointment Online
Choose a time that suits you below, or call us on 01905 428956 — appointments are usually available within 1–2 days, and in almost all cases assessment and your first treatment happen at the same visit.
Visiting Us for Frozen Shoulder Treatment
You’ll find us at 102 Bromyard Road, St John’s, Worcester, WR2 5DJ — a few minutes from the city centre on the west side of the river. There is one parking space directly in front of the clinic and three more in the Methodist Church car park around 50 m away. Directions, opening hours and fees are on our appointments page.
As well as Worcester itself, we regularly treat shoulder patients from St John’s, Hallow and Martley, from Malvern, and from further afield in Worcestershire including Bromsgrove and Redditch.
Frozen Shoulder FAQs
Can a chiropractor help with frozen shoulder?
Yes. Manual therapy — stretching, mobilisation, soft-tissue work and a tailored exercise programme — is an effective way to restore range of movement and reduce the pain of frozen shoulder. Because the condition is naturally slow to respond, treatment usually continues until the “freezing” and “frozen” stages have passed, and your chiropractor will review your progress at every stage.
Do I need an injection or hydrodilatation for frozen shoulder?
Not necessarily. We do not give injections at the clinic, and for many people hands-on manual therapy and exercise are a reasonable first-line approach. A corticosteroid injection can help with pain and works best alongside manual therapy rather than on its own, and hydrodilatation (capsular distension) can be useful in some cases. If we think an injection or hydrodilatation would benefit you, we will explain why and can arrange the appropriate referral.
Is a chiropractor or physiotherapist better for frozen shoulder?
Both professions use very similar tools for frozen shoulder — manual therapy and graded exercise. The most important first step is a careful examination to confirm it really is a frozen shoulder and not a rotator cuff problem, a trapped nerve or referred pain from the neck, because those are treated differently. Your initial consultation with us includes that full assessment before any treatment begins.
How long does frozen shoulder last?
Left untreated, frozen shoulder typically runs its course over many months to around two years, moving through a freezing stage, a frozen stage and a thawing stage. There is no treatment that resolves it overnight, but the right manual therapy and exercises can reduce pain and help you keep as much movement as possible while it settles.
How much does frozen shoulder treatment cost in Worcester?
Your initial consultation is £85, which includes a full history, a neurological and orthopaedic examination, a clear explanation of what is causing your shoulder pain and — in almost all cases — your first treatment. Follow-up treatments are £50.
How quickly can I get an appointment?
Usually within 1–2 days. You can book online at any time of day or call us on 01905 428956. Treatment normally starts at your first visit, so you don’t wait longer in discomfort than you need to.
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