Frozen Shoulder Treatment in Sydney | Rose Bay Clinic
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, to use the clinical term, is one of the more challenging shoulder conditions to manage, and one of the most frustrating for patients. It typically develops in three phases: a painful phase where the shoulder becomes progressively more restricted and inflamed; a frozen phase where pain may diminish but stiffness becomes severe; and a thawing phase where movement gradually returns. Left unmanaged, the full cycle can take two to three years. With appropriate care, that timeline can often be meaningfully shortened, and the degree of function restored significantly improved.
At Gordon Chiropractic & Exercise Physiology in Rose Bay, we work with patients across all three phases of frozen shoulder, tailoring the approach to where they are in the cycle and what their functional goals are.
What Causes Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder is characterised by inflammation and thickening of the joint capsule surrounding the glenohumeral joint, leading to progressive loss of movement, particularly external rotation and elevation. It is more common in people aged 40 to 60, in women, in people with diabetes or thyroid conditions, and following periods of shoulder immobilisation (such as after a fracture or surgery). In many cases, no clear precipitating cause is identified.
Chiropractic Assessment and Care for Frozen Shoulder
Chiropractic assessment of frozen shoulder looks beyond the glenohumeral joint to assess the acromioclavicular joint, sternoclavicular joint, cervical and thoracic spine, and the entire kinetic chain of the shoulder girdle. Dysfunction in the thoracic spine or neck can restrict shoulder movement and perpetuate pain, and these contributing factors are frequently missed when the shoulder alone is treated. Gonstead adjustments to the cervical and thoracic spine can improve overall shoulder mechanics, reduce the neurological load on the shoulder region, and complement direct shoulder rehabilitation.
Exercise Physiology for Frozen Shoulder Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is central to recovery from frozen shoulder. As an ESSA-accredited exercise physiologist, I design staged programs appropriate to the patient’s phase of condition, gentle, pain-free range of motion work in the acute phase; progressive capsular stretching and rotator cuff strengthening as the thawing phase progresses; and full functional restoration for return to sport or occupational demands. The pace of progression matters, pushing too hard in the wrong phase can worsen symptoms. Getting the prescription right requires clinical assessment, not generic exercise sheets.
Why Choose Gordon Chiropractic?
With a 5.0-star rating from 100’s of Google reviews, Gordon Chiropractic & Exercise Physiology serves patients from Rose Bay, Bondi, Vaucluse, Woollahra, Double Bay, and the broader Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.
Book Online: Call (02) 9371 7774 or visit gordonchiropractic.com.au to book your assessment.