Frozen Shoulder: Stages, Timeline, and How Physiotherapy Helps
Frozen shoulder follows a predictable pattern. Knowing the stage you're in tells you exactly what treatment helps — and what to avoid.
Adhesive capsulitis — "frozen shoulder" — is painful and slow, but it is self-limiting and very treatable with the right approach at the right stage.
The three stages
- Freezing (2–9 months): increasing pain, especially at night; movement starts to reduce.
- Frozen (4–12 months): pain eases but stiffness dominates — reaching and rotating become hard.
- Thawing (5–24 months): movement gradually returns.
What physiotherapy does at each stage
- Freezing: pain control, gentle range-of-motion, sleep positioning. Aggressive stretching here makes it worse.
- Frozen: this is where graded mobilization and stretching pay off — restoring rotation and elevation.
- Thawing: strengthening and return to full function.
Will it come back?
Recurrence in the same shoulder is rare, but the other shoulder is at higher risk — especially with diabetes. Early management shortens the whole course.
If your shoulder has been stiffening for weeks and night pain is disturbing sleep, an assessment to confirm the stage is the best first step.
Dr. Sunil Tank (PT)
Physiotherapist at MyPhysioPoint, Jaipur. Reviewed for clinical accuracy on 30 May 2026. About the clinic
Have a question about your recovery?
Book an assessment with Dr. Sunil Tank — in clinic or online.