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Frozen Shoulder Treatment in Glen Iris

Expert physiotherapy for frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) — available in-clinic and in your home across Glen Iris and surrounds.

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Frozen Shoulder? Get Moving Again With GRIT

Frozen shoulder — medically known as adhesive capsulitis — is a condition where the shoulder joint becomes progressively stiff and painful, severely limiting your ability to move your arm. It typically develops in three stages: freezing (increasing pain), frozen (stiffness), and thawing (gradual improvement).

At GRIT Physio & Podiatry in Glen Iris, our physiotherapists are experienced in managing frozen shoulder at all stages. With the right treatment, we can significantly reduce your pain, restore your range of motion, and shorten the overall duration of the condition.

patient shoulder getting diagnosed

Common Conditions We Treat

  • Manual Therapy & Joint Mobilisation: Hands-on glenohumeral joint mobilisation to restore range of motion and reduce stiffness.
  • Dry Needling: Targeted needling of rotator cuff, pectorals, and deltoids to release muscle tension.
  • Exercise Rehabilitation: Progressive range of motion and strengthening exercises tailored to the stage of your condition.
  • Postural Correction: Addressing thoracic stiffness and shoulder blade mechanics that contribute to frozen shoulder.
  • Corticosteroid Injection Referral: Referral for injection when appropriate to reduce inflammation in the acute stage.
  • Education & Self-Management: Guidance on activity modification and home exercises to maintain progress between sessions.

Our Treatment Approach

Every patient is different. We start with a thorough assessment to understand exactly what’s causing your pain — then build a personalised treatment plan around your goals, lifestyle, and timeline.

  • Manual Therapy: Hands-on joint mobilisation and capsular stretching to restore shoulder range of motion.
  • Exercise Rehabilitation: Progressive range of motion and strengthening exercises tailored to your stage of recovery.
  • Dry Needling: Targeted needling to release muscle tension and reduce pain around the shoulder joint.
  • Shockwave Therapy: Applied to the shoulder capsule and surrounding tissues to reduce inflammation and promote healing.

In-Clinic & In-Home Available

We offer frozen shoulder physiotherapy both at our Glen Iris clinic and in the comfort of your own home — particularly helpful when shoulder pain makes driving or travelling difficult.

✔ NDIS Participants Welcome
We work with self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants. Contact us to discuss your funding options.

📞 Call us: 9999 7271

Frequently Asked Questions

Frozen Shoulder, medically known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterised by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. It occurs when the connective tissue surrounding the joint (the shoulder capsule) thickens and tightens, restricting movement and often progressing through painful, freezing, and thawing stages.
Recovery time for Frozen Shoulder can vary significantly, often ranging from 12 to 18 months, and in some cases, up to 2-3 years without intervention. However, with our structured and aggressive physiotherapy approach, including specific manual therapy and exercise progression, we aim to significantly shorten this timeline and improve outcomes.
While some discomfort can be expected during rehabilitation, our approach focuses on working within a pain-free or tolerable range, especially during the initial painful ‘freezing’ stage. We use graded exposure and pain modulation techniques to ensure exercises are effective without causing undue pain or exacerbating the condition.
While less common, Frozen Shoulder can recur, particularly if underlying contributing factors like poor posture or biomechanical imbalances are not addressed. Our comprehensive treatment includes identifying and correcting these factors, alongside a robust long-term management plan, to minimise the risk of recurrence.
Injections, such as corticosteroid injections, can be used to help manage pain and inflammation, particularly in the early, painful stages of Frozen Shoulder. While they can provide temporary relief and create a window for more effective physiotherapy, they are typically used as an adjunct to, not a replacement for, a comprehensive rehabilitation program.
At GRIT, our ‘one-percenters’ approach for Frozen Shoulder involves a highly individualised treatment plan combining advanced manual therapy, targeted load management, and cutting-edge modalities like ESWT or dry needling when indicated. We focus on not just restoring movement but optimising shoulder mechanics and addressing root causes for lasting results, setting us apart from generic approaches.

Ready to Get Started?

Book an appointment online or call our Glen Iris clinic today.

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Or call us: 9999 7271