What are the best exercises for frozen shoulder?
Searching for the best exercises for a frozen shoulder is a natural first move. The better first move is to find out what a clinician wants you to do, and to prepare for that conversation.
The short answer: exercises are part of treatment
The NHS says frozen shoulder can be treated with shoulder exercises and painkillers. Which exercises suit you is a clinician's call, since moves that help someone else may not suit your shoulder.
What to gather before you ask about exercises
Prepare your notes in this order:
- Write down which movements hurt, such as reaching up or behind you.
- Note how long the shoulder has been stiff.
- List any exercises you have already tried and what happened.
- List the painkillers you take and how often.
Stop any movement that sharply increases your pain and tell the clinician about it.
Reading and asking next
To see how the joint is put together, read the shoulder joint explainer. For how pain care is organised, see the pain management guide. General background is in the MedlinePlus pain topic page. You can also visit the site of a pain medicine society. If you are near Bloomfield, bring the notes to your first call and ask who prescribes exercises.
Who decides which exercises you do
Exercises are part of treatment for frozen shoulder, and your clinician decides which ones you should do.