Physical Therapy for Frozen Shoulder

Can physical therapy help with frozen shoulder?

Physical therapy can help manage frozen shoulder by reducing pain, maintaining or regaining functional movement, and enabling you to resume your activities. The program tailors the activities and the amount of exercise to your response. A systematic review is an assessment that searches for, selects, and evaluates available studies on a specific topic. The systematic review on physical therapy for frozen shoulder reports that certain interventions improve pain, mobility, and function—that is, the ability to perform daily activities. However, the same review concludes that the studies are methodologically too weak to identify one approach as superior to the others.¹ Depending on your pain, stiffness, goals, and other health issues, a medical consultation may also be useful for discussing options such as an injection. The treatment plan evolves based on your response, just as it does for other shoulder and arm pain conditions.

What symptoms and changes are characteristic of shoulder capsulitis?

Shoulder capsulitis, often called “frozen shoulder,” is characterized by pain, stiffness, and a significant reduction in active and passive range of motion. An active movement is one that you perform yourself, whereas a passive movement is performed by another person while your arm remains relaxed. A narrative review is an overview of the literature written by experts in the field. A 2011 narrative review describes capsulitis as a painful and gradual loss of both active and passive shoulder movement.² The restriction often affects multiple directions, but its severity and progression vary from person to person. A systematic review focusing on the natural progression of frozen shoulder did not find the consistent sequence of phases described in many sources. The individuals studied progressed in various ways, and movement limitations could persist for a long time.³

Pain, stiffness, sleep, and function may change at different rates. To guide your follow-up care, please describe what is bothering you today and what has changed:

Pain, Sleep, and Tolerance for Movement

Pain may be present at rest, at night, or during certain movements, while range of motion becomes more limited. A cross-sectional study—which assesses each person at a single point in time—compared 343 people with various shoulder conditions. The group with frozen shoulder slept less well. However, there was no clear difference in average pain intensity among the diagnoses compared.⁴ These signs warrant an evaluation, but they do not, on their own, confirm frozen shoulder. A systematic review of physical examination tests concludes that there are not yet universal clinical criteria for frozen shoulder. In other words, there is no universally accepted checklist of signs to examine. Some tests showed promising results in early studies, but no sufficiently validated set of tests could confirm the diagnosis on its own.⁵

Mobility and Challenging Activities

For some people, stiffness makes it difficult to perform tasks such as getting dressed or doing their hair.

Response to the Plan and Priorities

Pain, mobility, and function may improve at different rates. Follow-up focuses on the activities that are important to you and on the changes that are actually observed.

In a series of five patients scheduled to undergo capsular release, the researchers measured passive abduction and external rotation before and after general anesthesia—medication that completely puts a person to sleep. A case series reports the findings observed in only a few individuals, without a comparison group. The capsule is the tissue sheath surrounding the joint, and a capsular release is a surgical procedure that cuts through it to facilitate movement. Abduction is the movement that moves the arm out to the side, and external rotation turns the forearm outward, with the elbow toward the body. Measuring the range of motion—that is, the extent of possible movement—during general anesthesia allows researchers to determine how far the shoulder moves when the muscles are no longer resisting.⁶ Abduction increased in all five patients, and external rotation increased in three of them, suggesting that protective muscle contraction contributes to the limitation of movement only in certain cases.⁶ Protective muscle contraction refers to muscles that tighten around the shoulder on their own, without the person’s conscious control. Five people constitute too small a sample size to determine how often this contraction accounts for the loss of movement or to quantify its extent. This small sample size does not allow for an estimate of this contribution in any specific individual.

Physical therapy can help you understand the problem, adapt your activities, and try out movements or exercises based on how you respond. A review of 14 trials on information provided to people with shoulder pain included only one study on frozen shoulder. That trial evaluated daily reminders, encouragement, and explanations about exercises sent via text message. These additions did not improve pain or functional ability any more than when these messages were not sent. This comparison does not account for all the ways in which the problem might be explained during a consultation.⁷

What are the goals of physical therapy for capsulitis?

Physical therapy aims to make sleep more tolerable, restore functional movement, and enable patients to resume important activities. The treatment plan may combine educational guidance, activity modifications, exercises, and—when helpful in achieving a specific goal— specific manual techniques. The combination described remains common in clinical practice. The available data do not yet allow us to identify the best combination or the most beneficial amount of exercise. A systematic review with a meta-analysis—a calculation that combines data from multiple studies—included sixteen studies on manual therapy and exercise. The pooled comparisons did not show a clear benefit regarding pain, daily functioning, or external rotation, which rotates the arm outward. The quality of the data ranged from low to very low.⁸ An injection may also be discussed with a doctor when pain severely limits sleep or participation in exercises. A systematic review combines randomized trials, which randomly assign participants to the groups being compared. A corticosteroid injection—a powerful anti-inflammatory injected into the shoulder—performed better than a placebo and physical therapy for up to twelve weeks. A placebo looks like the treatment but does not contain the active ingredient. The authors suggest considering this option especially when pain is the primary symptom at the outset.⁹ The choice depends on the evaluation, your preferences, your response to treatment, and any contraindications—that is, situations in which the treatment may be inadvisable.

Can an injection complement physical therapy?

A nerve block, combined with joint injections and physical therapy, shortened recovery time in a trial involving 54 people. The researchers compared this treatment to the same program using a placebo injection instead of the nerve block. They recommended repeating either the nerve block or the placebo every twelve weeks if symptoms persisted. This schedule does not mean that a single injection numbs the nerve for three months.¹⁰ The 54 participants were divided into two groups of 27. A glenohumeral injection is administered directly into the joint between the shoulder blade and the upper arm bone. A suprascapular block is an injection of medication around the suprascapular nerve to temporarily reduce sensitivity in part of the shoulder. This nerve provides sensation to a large portion of the shoulder.

In the cited trial, the average time to resolution—as defined by the researchers—was 5.4 months with the suprascapular block, compared with 11.2 months with the placebo. The average difference between the two groups was therefore approximately six months. This figure comes from a single trial and refers to resolution as defined in advance by the researchers, not to the complete disappearance of symptoms in a specific individual.¹⁰ This result pertains to the addition of the block to the comparator treatment and does not describe the course of all cases of capsulitis.¹⁰

The plan progresses based on your pain, mobility, activities that are difficult for you, and your response to the exercises. These factors are more important than a predetermined sequence of exercises.

When Pain Takes Over

The top priorities may be to make sleep or an activity more tolerable and to maintain useful movements, without seeking maximum range of motion at all costs.

When the shoulder reacts strongly to movement, exercises should begin within a tolerable range of motion. A slight and brief increase in symptoms may be acceptable, but a marked or persistent worsening of symptoms warrants reducing the workload and reassessing the program. The 2013 clinical guide recommends adjusting the intensity of movements based on pain and the shoulder’s tolerance. Read the guide on adapting exercises. The nerve block trial also used exercises tailored to each person’s response, without directly comparing two levels of stretching intensity.¹⁰

The following options can be tried in small amounts and continued only if they help:

• Joint mobilization—small movements applied to the shoulder with the hands—if they improve a symptom or a functional movement
• Manual therapy on adjacent muscles should be performed only if it temporarily improves comfort or movement
• A short-term comfort measure, used only if it helps with mobility or sleep
• A movement you perform yourself, chosen for a specific action, with a manageable range of motion and frequency

When stiffness is the main factor limiting activities

If a loss of range of motion interferes with an important activity, the program can help improve that range of motion without waiting for the pain to disappear completely:

• Larger-scale mobilizations only if they are tolerated and yield a useful benefit
• Stretching aimed at a functional movement, without assuming that it acts solely on the capsule
• Range of motion was tested for a specific movement and then remeasured
• Perform the exercise with the help of the other arm or a support if doing so allows for a more comfortable or effective movement

When the shoulder can better handle activities and resistance

The program can then focus on a more demanding activity—whether it involves strength or endurance, or the ability to sustain or repeat an effort—depending on your priorities:

• Gradual reinforcement related to a task you want to resume
• Exercises to strengthen your arm in the positions required for your activities
• Gradual resumption of a specific activity, with the workload adjusted based on the body's response
• Simplify the program as you make progress, keeping only the exercises that still serve a purpose

An evaluation can help clarify options, set measurable goals, and adjust the workload as symptoms change. The timing of the first consultation alone does not predict the duration of recovery.

What treatments are effective for a painful and stiff shoulder?

Exercises, stretches, and manual techniques can be tailored to a painful and stiff shoulder. The physical therapist selects them based on your main issues, such as nighttime pain, limited movement, or difficulty performing certain activities. Each intervention should be reevaluated: if it does not improve your symptoms, mobility, or function, the treatment plan is adjusted.

Appropriate Joint Mobilization Techniques

Mobilizations are passive movements applied to the shoulder. They are not necessary in every care plan. Whether they are appropriate, as well as their direction, range of motion, and force, depend on the assessment, the patient’s tolerance, and the goals discussed with the patient. When they are recommended, the physical therapist may apply them to the glenohumeral joint in the direction selected during the evaluation.

Stretches selected based on tolerance

A stretch performed with assistance or using the other arm can help determine a useful range of motion. Duration and intensity should start at a low level and increase only if the response remains acceptable during the exercise and in the hours that follow. An exercise that causes lasting pain should be modified rather than forced.

Mobilization with movement, when appropriate

Mobilization with movement combines sustained pressure on the joint with a movement you perform yourself. The physical therapist tests the technique and then reassesses the movement. An immediate improvement may guide the session, though it does not guarantee a lasting effect. A 2026 review included 29 trials on chronic frozen shoulder. At the end of the programs, this technique resulted in greater improvements in pain, functional activities, and certain movements compared to other mobilization techniques. Results varied widely across the trials. The few follow-ups conducted two to ten weeks later did not show a clear benefit, leaving the long-term effect uncertain.¹¹

Manual therapy on the surrounding muscles

Manual therapy targeting the muscles around the shoulder may be aimed at providing temporary relief or facilitating movement. It is not necessary in all care plans. Whether it is appropriate depends on the assessment and the goals discussed with the patient.

The loss of range of motion does not necessarily depend on fixed stiffness of the joint capsule. The idea that muscles play a role is based on a very small sample: five people whose shoulders were measured twice—once while awake and once under anesthesia—with no comparison group. The observed improvements make this hypothesis plausible, but do not provide any valid estimates for the general population of patients.⁶ A measurement taken under anesthesia suggests that protective muscle contraction may contribute to the restriction in some individuals, though it does not allow for quantifying its role in an individual case.⁶

Terms and conditions sometimes offered

• Electrotherapy (TENS): TENS is a device that delivers an electrical current through electrodes—conductive pads attached to the skin. A Cochrane review, produced by an international network that independently evaluates healthcare interventions, examined electrical current treatments used for capsulitis. The evidence is very uncertain and does not allow for a determination of the added benefit of combining ultrasound and TENS with exercises.¹²
• Heat: gentle, soothing heat that enhances comfort, without claiming to prepare or soften the capsule
• Cooling: a brief, gentle cooling sensation—if you prefer it for comfort—without direct contact with the skin
• Therapeutic ultrasound: a device emits sound waves that are inaudible to the human ear

The plan doesn't need to combine all of these options. It focuses on interventions that help you sleep better, be more active, or accomplish an important task. The at-home program should remain feasible and be adjusted based on your response, rather than followed at all costs.

When can a physical therapy evaluation be helpful?

An evaluation is warranted if the pain persists, if the shoulder becomes stiffer, or if sleep and daily activities are affected. It helps identify signs consistent with frozen shoulder and refers the patient to a doctor if the symptoms suggest another cause, though it does not guarantee a faster or complete recovery.

Seek urgent medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms. You do not need to have all of them

• Shoulder pain accompanied by fever, redness, or marked localized warmth, or a deterioration in overall health
• Inability to move the arm, even without a fall or impact; pain that begins after an injury or accident
• Shoulder pain accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, or discomfort
• New weakness in the arm, loss of sensation, persistent tingling, or a sudden sensation of heat or cold in the arm; a pale or bluish hand also requires urgent medical attention
• Visible deformity, significant swelling, sudden or very severe pain, even without a prior injury
• Pain or stiffness in multiple joints, accompanied by fever, severe fatigue, or unexplained weight loss
• Severe pain in both shoulders

If you experience sudden chest pain that persists, spreads to your arm, or is accompanied by sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath, call 911. Do not wait for a physical therapy appointment. Read about the signs of a chest emergency. For other warning signs, see also the urgent signs of shoulder pain.

What a Consultation Can Offer

A physical therapy evaluation for shoulder pain can help identify which movements are difficult, determine whether the symptoms are consistent with frozen shoulder, and set specific goals. In particular, it can:

• Adapt activities and exercises to the symptoms, and then adjust them as mobility and function change.
• Measuring effective movements and tracking their progress
• Test strategies to make sleep, movement, or activities more tolerable
• Plan for a gradual resumption of key activities

In Quebec, a physical therapist in private practice can be consulted directly without a doctor's referral. However, the rules for accessing the public health care system or the terms of a private insurance plan may require a referral. The evaluation is then used to determine whether physical therapy is appropriate or if a referral to a physician is warranted.

What does an initial physical therapy consultation involve?

The initial consultation includes a discussion of your symptoms, an examination of active and passive range of motion, and an investigation into other possible causes. The duration of the consultation depends on the clinic and the complexity of the problem. The physical therapist will then explain the findings of the evaluation, any uncertainties, and reasonable treatment options.

Interview about your symptoms and priorities

The physical therapist will begin by understanding your problem and the health factors that may influence the evaluation:

• When the symptoms began and how they have changed
• Movements, positions, and activities that worsen or alleviate symptoms
• Impact on daily activities, work, and hobbies that are important to you
• Relevant health factors, including diabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are too high; thyroid disorder, a condition affecting the thyroid gland in the neck that regulates several bodily functions; recent injury or surgery
• The Effect of Pain on Sleep and Tolerated Positions
• Treatments, exercises, and medications already tried, along with their beneficial or adverse effects

A physical exam tailored to your situation

The physical exam is tailored to your symptoms and may include the following:

• Observation: spontaneous movements, arm use, and visible differences between the shoulders
• Manual examination: identification of tender areas that may supplement the examination, though this alone does not confirm the diagnosis
• Range of motion: a comparison of relevant active and passive movements, depending on what your shoulder can tolerate
• Stiffness distribution: measurement in multiple directions and a cautious comparison with the other shoulder when such a comparison is relevant
• Muscle strength: pain-sensitive tests to distinguish between apparent weakness and difficulty exerting effort
• Daily Activities: Observing activities that are important to you, within a safe range

Assessment Results, Uncertainties, and Explanations

The physical therapist will discuss the findings, any uncertainties, and the next steps with you:

• The evaluation's findings, other possible causes, and the degree of uncertainty
• The current assessment of pain, stiffness, and function, without imposing a predetermined sequence
• Goals to be pursued and grounds for reassessment: sustained worsening, new weakness, or lack of meaningful change despite a plan implemented as agreed
• The proposed plan, reasonable alternatives, and the criteria for revising it

Initial interventions, if indicated

If the evaluation does not reveal any reason to postpone the exercises or seek medical advice, the first visit may also include:

• A manual technique, if it targets a specific symptom or movement
• Learning exercises at home with cues for adjusting or pausing them
• Tips for temporarily adjusting the most irritating positions and activities
• A short-term comfort measure only if it makes it easier to move or sleep

How to Decide How Often to Schedule Follow-ups

The frequency depends on your goals, your ability to work independently with the program, the pace of change, and the need for reassessment:

• Closer monitoring if the pain significantly interferes with sleep or if the program needs to be adjusted quickly
• Less frequent follow-ups if you're making progress on your own; more frequent follow-ups only if each visit results in a useful adjustment
• Follow-ups that are gradually spaced out as goals are achieved and the program is well understood

The number of sessions is not determined in advance. Follow-up sessions continue only if they result in a meaningful change, progress in the program, or a necessary reassessment.

How do we determine the duration and frequency of follow-up?

The duration and frequency of follow-up are determined based on your goals, your level of independence, and the need to adjust the program. Prolonged symptoms do not automatically require frequent visits throughout their course. A systematic review of the course of the condition without treatment reports that movement limitations sometimes persist for one to four years, with no guarantee of full recovery.³ The same study does not compare visit frequencies, so the spacing of follow-up visits remains a clinical decision. Physical therapy sessions may be scheduled more frequently to establish or adjust a treatment plan, and then spaced out based on the patient’s independence, measured changes, and goals.

Examples of goals to pursue, based on your profile

If the pain mainly interferes with sleep and daily activities

• Objective: to make sleep or an activity more tolerable and to preserve useful movements
• Frequency: as needed to reassess and adjust the plan
• To be addressed separately: sleep, nighttime pain, and significant movements

If stiffness mainly limits daily activities

• Objective: To improve a movement that limits an important activity
• Frequency: just frequent enough to make meaningful progress in the program
• To be tracked separately: measured range of motion and ease of performing daily activities

If mobility and function are already improving

• Goal: to make progress toward a chosen activity with a manageable workload
• Frequency: Follow-ups at irregular intervals, as needed to adjust goals or workload
• Coming up: a gradual resumption of selected activities and any further adjustments that may be necessary

Factors to Consider Without Predicting Your Personal Time Frame

• Time before seeking care: Seeking care early can help clarify the diagnosis and treatment options, though it does not guarantee a shorter recovery time
• Home exercise program: A manageable program makes it easier to stick with; if it’s too painful or unrealistic, it should be adjusted rather than continued out of a sense of guilt
• Medical history: Please report any diabetes, thyroid disorders, and relevant medications so that we can tailor the evaluation and treatment options accordingly—without making any assumptions about the cause or duration of your symptoms.
• Initial Assessment: Pain, mobility, sleep, and daily activities provide useful guidelines for selecting and revising the plan
• Age and overall health: These factors guide the selection and progression of exercises, but do not provide a recovery timeline.

Useful changes to track over time

• Less disrupted sleep or better tolerance of nighttime sleeping positions
• Useful movements that are a little easier, even though the range of motion varies from day to day
• Everyday tasks performed with less difficulty or the need to compensate
• The need for medication is discussed with the prescriber, taking into account pain and function

Capsulitis often requires patience. A helpful plan focuses on measurable changes in sleep, movement, or activities and is adjusted when those changes do not occur.

How do you choose home exercises that are right for your shoulder?

The choice of home exercises depends on which movements are difficult for you, your goals, and how your shoulder responds. The exercises can focus on mobility, strength, or a specific movement. The pendulum exercise, assisted movements, wall exercises, and resistance exercises are examples—not a prescription. The choice of exercises and how you progress depend on how your shoulder responds and your goals.

A home exercise program can help patients continue their practice between visits, provided it is short, easy to understand, and manageable. The frequency and progression of the program are adjusted based on symptoms experienced during exercise, the patient’s subsequent response, and changes in key movements.

Guidelines for Adapting Exercises

• Choose a frequency that you can maintain without causing lasting worsening of your symptoms
• Brief discomfort may be acceptable. Reduce or stop the exercise if the pain increases significantly and does not return to its usual level after this adjustment, if a new symptom appears, or if your function decreases; in that case, reassess the plan.
• Use gentle, soothing heat before moving only if it makes you feel more comfortable
• Use cold wraps only if you find them comfortable; stop using them if you experience significant numbness or a skin reaction
• Adjust the duration and number of repetitions to achieve a tolerable level of tension without a prolonged reaction

If even small movements easily trigger pain

Start with easy movements. Mild, brief discomfort may be acceptable, but the duration or intensity should be reduced if symptoms persist or interfere more significantly with daily activities.

A gentle pendulum-like motion, if it's comfortable

Lean forward, resting on a table, and let your arm hang loosely. Small movements of your torso will cause your arm to swing without requiring much effort from your shoulder. Start with short movements and stop if the movement significantly worsens your symptoms.

Assisted standing using a cane, within the tolerable range of motion

Lying on your back, hold a cane with both hands. The arm that hurts less can help the other arm raise to a comfortable range of motion. Return slowly and adjust the number of repetitions based on how you feel.

While some movements remain limited, they allow for gradual progress

The difficulty increases only if the movement becomes easier and the reaction remains acceptable. The goal is to achieve a meaningful improvement, not to push the capsule too hard.

Assisted movement toward internal rotation, with the hand behind the back, only if tolerated

Place the towel behind your back and use your less painful arm to gently guide the hand on the affected side up your back. Do not aim for a specific height. Stop if you experience sharp pain, new weakness, or numbness, or if the pain increases significantly and does not return to its usual level after you slow down or stop the movement.

Movement of the arm in front of the body, without sharp pain

Bring your arm in front of your body and use your other hand to gently guide it toward the opposite shoulder. Stop before you feel a sharp pain, and release if the reaction persists after the exercise.

Sliding the hand along the wall within an acceptable range

Facing the wall, raise your fingers as high as you can comfortably go, then slowly lower them. Use this as a reference only to track your progress—don't try to set a daily record or force yourself to reach the maximum height.

If the joints are better able to withstand a gradual load

Reinforcement can be added to facilitate a specific movement or activity, within a tolerable load.

Gradual strengthening of the rotator cuff, when indicated

The rotator cuff consists of muscles and their tendons—the attachments to the bones—that help move and stabilize the shoulder. Using an elastic band selected based on your strength, rotate your forearm outward or inward while keeping your elbow close to your body. Stay within a comfortable range of motion. The resistance, number of repetitions, and rest days depend on how your body responds.

Lifting with light resistance, if the movement is well tolerated

If this exercise is appropriate for your goal, raise your arm against light resistance within a comfortable range of motion and control the lowering phase. Increase only one variable at a time—for example, range of motion, repetitions, or resistance.

Important: These exercises are general examples, not a personalized program. Brief discomfort is not always a cause for concern. Reduce or stop the exercise and seek advice if the pain increases significantly, persists, is accompanied by new weakness, or further limits your function.

What can one reasonably expect from physical therapy as frozen shoulder progresses?

Physical therapy can help restore movement and functional activities, but results depend on the program and your response. One study followed 77 people with idiopathic capsulitis—that is, capsulitis with no specific identified cause—for 24 months. It compared supportive care with pain-tolerable exercises to intensive physical therapy involving passive stretching and mobilization. At 24 months, 89% of the first group and 63% of the intensive group had achieved a score of at least 80 out of 100 on the Constant score, which combines pain, activities, mobility, and strength. The Constant score is a scale completed by the clinician, where 100 corresponds to a shoulder with no symptoms or limitations. The percentages come from a single prospective study—that is, a study in which participants were recruited and then followed from the outset. Both groups followed specific programs.¹³ This specific comparison does not prove that every low-intensity program is suitable for everyone.¹³

Metrics to Monitor During Recovery

Pain, mobility, and function do not always change in the same order. Track your sleep, a few key movements, and the activities that matter to you separately. An improvement in one area may precede, follow, or occur without a corresponding change in the others.

Factors That Can Facilitate Participation in the Plan

• Access to an evaluation when the diagnosis is uncertain or daily activities become difficult
• A fairly short at-home program that is manageable enough to follow as agreed
• Sessions held frequently enough to reassess progress, make improvements, or simplify the program in a meaningful way
• Comfort strategies and workload adjustments to enable gradual participation
• Taking into account diabetes, thyroid disorders, medications, and other health issues to choose options that are compatible with your situation

Factors that may require an adjustment to the plan

• Symptoms that have been present for a long time, especially if the diagnosis or treatment goals remain unclear
• Diabetes, thyroid disorders, medications, or other health issues should be taken into account when choosing treatment options, without automatically attributing pain or stiffness to them
• A home exercise program that is too painful, too long, or poorly suited to the individual, indicating that it needs to be modified
• Apprehension about movement—best addressed through gradual trials and explanations rather than labeling
• An increase in workload that causes a clear and lasting deterioration, indicating that a more gradual increase is preferable

What we can cautiously say about the trend

The course of the condition varies from person to person. The systematic review on frozen shoulder does not find a consistent course, and there is no guarantee of a complete recovery without treatment.³ Variation from person to person is therefore part of the expected clinical picture. Pain, range of motion, and function may change at different rates, and restricted movement may persist even as certain activities become easier.

• If pain or stiffness develops in the other shoulder, a new evaluation is recommended. Similar symptoms alone are not sufficient to conclude that it is another case of frozen shoulder.
• If symptoms recur in the same shoulder, the condition should be reevaluated, as there may be another explanation

Realistic expectations do not preclude hope. The goal is to move forward with important activities without promising a specific date or perfect results. If an intensive program causes symptoms to worsen over the long term without providing any meaningful benefit, it should be scaled back or replaced.

A one-time increase in amplitude under anesthesia does not allow us to predict whether a given individual will experience spontaneous recovery, nor the extent or timing of that recovery.⁶ The study in question measured amplitudes only immediately before and after anesthesia in five individuals. It did not track recovery thereafter and did not validate any prognostic tool—that is, a tool used to predict the course of the condition.

If shoulder pain and stiffness persist or interfere with your sleep and daily activities, an evaluation can help clarify the problem and your treatment options. The treatment plan should be tailored to your priorities and adjusted based on any changes observed.

References

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10. Shanahan EM, Gill TK, Briggs E, Hill CL, Bain G, Morris T. Suprascapular nerve block for the treatment of adhesive capsulitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. RMD Open. 2022;8(2). (Back to sections: 1, 2, 3, 4)
11. Storås A, Lillebostad F, Haslerud S, Bjordal JM, Leal-Junior ECP, Johnson MI, et al. Efficacy of mobilization with movement in chronic shoulder pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2026;27(1). (Back to section: 1)
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