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Frozen shoulder · Adhesive capsulitis · Whitechapel, London

Frozen Shoulder Treatment London

Assessment and phase-based treatment of frozen shoulder, including focal shockwave therapy where it fits the stage you are at.

Delivered byDr Kishore Bahl, Specialist Urologist
ConsultationAssessment before any treatment
Session timeTypically 15–30 min
DowntimeNone
Back to MusculoskeletalAll Services

Educational information — not a substitute for clinical assessment

This page describes frozen shoulder in general terms to help you decide whether an assessment may be useful. It is not a diagnosis and does not promise a particular result. Suitability, the number of sessions and whether treatment is appropriate at all are decided at consultation. Outcomes vary between individuals and treatment is not suitable for everyone.

Why people come to us about this.

Frozen shoulder is one of the most painful and prolonged musculoskeletal conditions, and one where the wrong treatment at the wrong stage makes things worse. Which phase you are in determines everything.

What this condition actually is.

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, involves inflammation and then contracture of the shoulder joint capsule, causing pain and progressive stiffness.

It classically passes through three phases: a painful freezing phase, a stiff frozen phase, and a gradual thawing phase. The whole course commonly takes one to three years.

Treatment differs by phase. Aggressive stretching during the painful phase typically worsens symptoms; the same stretching later is helpful. Assessment establishes where you are.

What you might be noticing.

  • Shoulder pain that came on without obvious injury
  • Pain worse at night, often disturbing sleep
  • Progressive loss of movement, particularly reaching behind the back or overhead
  • Difficulty dressing, washing hair or fastening a seatbelt
  • Restriction when someone else moves the arm, not only when you move it yourself
  • Symptoms lasting many months

What tends to cause it.

  • Often no identifiable trigger
  • Diabetes, which substantially increases risk and tends to produce a more prolonged course
  • Thyroid disease
  • A period of immobility after injury or surgery
  • Previous frozen shoulder in the other shoulder
  • More common between 40 and 60, and in women

How treatment helps.

Focal shockwave has been studied in frozen shoulder, with the aim of reducing pain and supporting mobility.

Its role depends on phase. It is not a substitute for the structured physiotherapy that underpins management.

Other options include corticosteroid injection, which is often most useful in the painful phase, and hydrodilatation.

We will be direct about which option is likely to help most at your stage, including when that is not shockwave.

Why we use focal shockwave.

We use focal shockwave because it delivers energy to a defined depth — up to approximately 12 cm — allowing accurate treatment of deeper structures. Radial devices spread energy outwards from the applicator and lose intensity quickly, which limits them to more superficial targets.

Why focal reaches what radial cannot.

Pulses travel from the probe and converge on a target at depth. The dashed line marks where radial devices stop.

036912 cm Radial device range ► stops here Focal probe Target SkinFat layerMuscleDeepmuscle
Focal shockwave · depth of penetration

What treatment can offer.

Phase-based assessment rather than one-size tr

Phase-based assessment rather than one-size treatment

Non-invasive and drug-free option

Non-invasive and drug-free option

No anaesthetic, no downtime

No anaesthetic, no downtime

Available alongside injection and physiotherap

Available alongside injection and physiotherapy within the same clinic

Screening for diabetes and thyroid disease, wh

Screening for diabetes and thyroid disease, which are commonly associated and often undiagnosed

What to expect during treatment.

  1. Step 1

    Assessment of range of movement, both active and passive, which is what distinguishes frozen shoulder from other shoulder problems.

  2. Step 2

    Blood tests where diabetes or thyroid disease has not been excluded.

  3. Step 3

    Imaging where the diagnosis is uncertain.

  4. Step 4

    A clear statement of which phase you are in and what that means.

  5. Step 5

    A plan that may include shockwave, injection, physiotherapy or a combination, with review.

Questions people usually ask.

How long does frozen shoulder last?

Commonly one to three years through all phases, though treatment can reduce pain and speed the recovery of movement.

Should I stretch through the pain?

Not in the painful phase — aggressive stretching then usually makes things worse. Later it becomes important.

Is an injection better than shockwave?

In the painful phase, a corticosteroid injection is often the more effective option. This is discussed honestly at assessment.

Why is it linked to diabetes?

Frozen shoulder is substantially more common in people with diabetes, and the course is often longer. We check for it if it has not been excluded.

Will it come back?

Recurrence in the same shoulder is uncommon. Occurrence in the other shoulder is more likely than in the general population.

Do I need surgery?

Rarely. Most cases settle without it, though persistent severe restriction may warrant referral.

Related treatments.

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Shockwave Therapy London

The main shockwave therapy page.

Learn more →

Joint Injection

Our general service page for this area.

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Orthopaedic

Our general service page for this area.

Learn more →

Physiotherapy

Our general service page for this area.

Learn more →

Before you book.

Referral

No GP referral needed. You can book directly.

First appointment

An assessment with Dr Kishore Bahl, Specialist Urologist. Treatment follows only if the assessment supports it.

Where

Whitechapel, East London. Whitechapel station is on the Elizabeth line, District, Hammersmith & City and Overground.

Fees

Published in full on our price list.

Privacy

Consultations are private and confidential. You are entitled to a chaperone at any appointment, at no cost.

Speak to a specialist.

Speak to Dr Kishore Bahl, Specialist Urologist, about whether this treatment is appropriate for you.

Book a consultation Call 020 7916 0029 See full pricing on our price list
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