--- title: "Frozen Shoulder Treatment in Haslemere" description: "Physiotherapy for frozen shoulder in Haslemere. The three stages, realistic timescales, and the right treatment for each stage." canonical: "https://healthflex.co.uk/services/frozen-shoulder" --- ![Person extends clenched fist forward while another person supports their forearm and shoulder](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-frozen-shoulder.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790157209868&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Shoulder and arm conditions # Frozen shoulder £62–£72 30–45 mins [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is one of the few conditions where **the honest timescale is the most useful thing we can give you**. The capsule surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and then thickens and contracts, and the shoulder becomes profoundly stiff. It is not a strain, it does not behave like one, and it will not respond to being pushed through. ## The three stages The **painful or freezing stage** comes first, where pain builds, night pain is often worst and movement is progressively lost. Then the **stiff or frozen stage**, where the pain typically eases somewhat but the shoulder is at its most restricted. Then the **thawing stage**, where movement gradually returns. Each stage commonly lasts several months, and **the whole process frequently takes eighteen months to two years or more**. That is a hard thing to hear and much easier to cope with than being told repeatedly that it should be better by now. ## What treatment does at each stage In the painful stage, the priority is settling pain and protecting the movement you still have, not forcing range. **Aggressive stretching here makes things worse.** In the stiff stage, hands on treatment and graded stretching to work on range. In the thawing stage, restoring strength and full function, because months of not using an arm properly leaves it weak. ## What else is worth knowing It is **more common in people with diabetes**, so if you have not been checked recently that is worth mentioning to your GP. A corticosteroid injection in the painful stage can help significantly with pain and is worth discussing with your GP alongside physiotherapy. [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) ## Frequently Asked Questions How long does frozen shoulder last? Commonly eighteen months to two years or more, with each of the three stages lasting several months. That is difficult to hear, but knowing it is far easier to cope with than being told repeatedly that it should have settled by now. Should I stretch a frozen shoulder? It depends entirely on the stage. In the early painful stage, aggressive stretching makes things worse and the priority is settling pain and protecting the movement you still have. Once it has passed into the stiff stage, graded stretching and hands on treatment are the right approach. Is frozen shoulder linked to diabetes? Yes, it is considerably more common in people with diabetes. If you have not had your blood sugar checked recently, it is worth mentioning to your GP when you see them. Would an injection help? A corticosteroid injection during the painful stage can significantly reduce pain for many people, and is worth discussing with your GP alongside physiotherapy rather than instead of it. It tends to help most early on. [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) ## Available Team Members These team members perform this service - ![Martin Dyer, physiotherapist and director of Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Martin Dyer, physiotherapist and director of Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. He has swept back dark hair greying at the sides and a warm, closed mouth smile, and wears a pale pink striped shirt with a pink and blue striped tie. The background is a blurred garden of autumn shrubs and trees.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-martin-dyer-physiotherapist-director-haslemere-48x59.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158917409&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Martin Dyer Physiotherapist and Director [View](/team-members/martin-dyer) - ![Anneke Webb, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Anneke Webb, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has long straight fair hair and is smiling at the camera, wearing a white Healthflex Physical Therapy Centres polo shirt. Behind her, out of focus, are a green playing field, a wooden rail fence and autumn trees under a cloudy sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-anneke-webb-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x53.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158550952&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Anneke Webb Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/anneke-webb) - ![Phillipa Frankland, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Phillipa Frankland, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has long straight light brown hair and a wide, friendly smile, and wears a navy zip neck fleece. Behind her, out of focus, are a yellow green hedge and trees under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-phillipa-frankland-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x61.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159136941&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Phillipa Frankland Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/phillipa-frankland) - ![Nick Thornhill, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Close head and shoulders portrait of Nick Thornhill, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. He has short dark hair and a full dark beard flecked with grey, with a relaxed closed mouth smile, and wears a navy polo shirt. Behind him is soft green foliage under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2FNick%2520Thornhill-48x57.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159610604&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Nick Thornhill Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/nick-thornhill) Show more team members - ![Theika Botterill, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Theika Botterill, physiotherapist specialising in sports and musculoskeletal care at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has brown hair tied back and a wide, beaming smile, and wears a pink Healthflex polo shirt. The background is a blurred autumn hedge under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-theika-botterill-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x60.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159715633&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Theika Botterill Physiotherapist, sports and musculoskeletal [View](/team-members/theika-botterill) - ![Gill Onslow, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Gill Onslow, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has wavy light brown hair with a fringe and a gentle smile, and wears a pink polo shirt under a navy V neck jumper. The background is a soft, bright blur of green garden foliage.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-gill-onslow-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x72.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158706868&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Gill Onslow Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/gill-onslow) ## Related Services Complete your experience with these services - Musculoskeletal physiotherapy £62–£72•30–45 mins [View](/services/musculoskeletal-physiotherapy) - Back and neck physiotherapy £62–£72•30–45 mins [View](/services/back-and-neck-physiotherapy)