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Understanding Frozen Shoulder: A Supportive Guide for Clients (with a Bit of Science!)

Nov 19, 2025

2 min read

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Hey everyone. AJ here from Relatable Trainer. Today we are talking about frozen shoulder and how we can tackle it together. If you have been told you have a frozen shoulder or you are just curious about what it is, here is a simple explanation.



What is Frozen Shoulder?


Frozen shoulder is when the tissue around your shoulder joint becomes tight and stiff. This can make everyday movements feel harder, especially reaching overhead, getting dressed or twisting your arm behind your back. It often builds up gradually, so you might notice the pain first and then a slow loss of movement.


Why It Happens


This can begin after an injury, after a period of not using the arm as much or sometimes for no clear reason at all. The shoulder capsule simply tightens and becomes less flexible. It is not your fault and it does not mean you have done anything wrong.


How We Work Through It


The good news is that frozen shoulder does improve. It has stages and it can take time, but mobility often returns when you work with your body rather than against it.


With clients, I focus on gentle movement, controlled range of motion, posture work and small strength drills that support the shoulder without forcing anything. The goal is to keep you comfortable, confident and steadily progressing.




You Are Not Alone


Frozen shoulder can feel frustrating, but it is something we can absolutely manage. With patience, the right exercises and consistent support, your shoulder can loosen and move more freely again. If you ever need guidance or reassurance, I am here to help.



Further Reading (Evidence and Guidelines)



These links explain frozen shoulder in more detail and support the approach we use:


• Clinical practice guideline for adhesive capsulitis

https://www.schoudernetwerk.nl/SNNbestanden/ProjectFrozenShoulder/FS.Guidelines-AdhesiveCapsulitis.Kelleyetal.JOSPT.2013.pdf


• Systematic review on manual therapy and exercise for frozen shoulder (2023)

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10566414/


• Stretching and manual therapy clinical study (2023)

https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/1/45


• Home-based mobility vs physiotherapy study (2024)

https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12891-024-07448-4


• Review supporting gentle mobility-based treatment

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3096148/

Nov 19, 2025

2 min read

0

6

0

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