Frozen shoulder (肩周炎, 凝肩, 五十肩): what to do? Symptoms, self-care, physiotherapy and which doctor to see
Frozen shoulder (known in Chinese as 肩周炎, 五十肩 or 凝肩) mostly occurs in people aged over fifty; the symptoms change from shoulder pain to a stiff shoulder joint, and care includes applying heat, physiotherapy, medicines taken as the doctor instructs, and gentle shoulder exercises (Department of Health Elderly Health Service, accessed October 2026). The treating doctor decides individual cases.
What is frozen shoulder? What are the symptoms?
Frozen shoulder is caused by inflammation of the soft tissue around the shoulder joint, is a common problem in older adults, mostly occurs in people aged over fifty, is also known in Chinese as 五十肩 or 凝肩, and is more common in women (Department of Health Elderly Health Service ‘Frozen shoulder’ information, for older adults, accessed October 2026).
The actual cause is unknown and it may be related to injury or overuse of the shoulder joint; in some cases it is related to reduced normal movement of the shoulder, for example after a stroke or after surgery on tissues near the shoulder (Department of Health Elderly Health Service, accessed October 2026).
The symptoms are at first pain in the shoulder joint that gradually gets worse, so that the patient may even be unable to sleep on the painful side; when the pain eases, the joint gradually becomes stiff, and the range of movement of the shoulder is reduced and restricted, affecting daily activities such as dressing, combing hair and lifting objects (Department of Health Elderly Health Service, accessed October 2026). Whether it is frozen shoulder is diagnosed by a doctor.
How is frozen shoulder managed? What self-care is there?
Heat can be applied to the affected area to relieve pain when the shoulder joint hurts; appropriate physiotherapy can reduce pain and shorten the course of the condition; medicines can reduce pain, but must be used as the doctor instructs, to avoid side effects (Department of Health Elderly Health Service, for older adults, accessed October 2026).
| Stage | What the Elderly Health Service says |
|---|---|
| While the joint is still very painful | Reduce lifting heavy objects with the painful arm as far as possible; avoid concentrating or repeating the use of the same shoulder joint, and use the two shoulders in turn; avoid excessive twisting of the shoulder joint and sleeping on the painful side; use the good arm more for self-care activities (for example, put the painful arm into the sleeve first when dressing, and use the good arm to comb hair or wash hair and face); gentle shoulder exercises such as the ‘Pendular exercise’ can be done, holding no heavy weight in the hand, to a level of pain the person can tolerate |
| When the pain has eased but movement of the shoulder joint is still restricted | Use the painful arm more in daily life, and do appropriate shoulder stretching exercises, to reduce stiffness of the shoulder joint |
Which specialty should I see for frozen shoulder?
Primary healthcare is the first point of contact for individuals and families in a continuous healthcare process, and family doctors are the main providers of primary healthcare (Health Bureau Primary Healthcare Blueprint, December 2022); for choosing a family doctor, see How to choose a family doctor. Anyone with questions about care can ask a healthcare professional or a physiotherapist (Department of Health Elderly Health Service, accessed October 2026).
Which healthcare professional follows up frozen shoulder is decided by the treating doctor according to the condition.
Can I see a physiotherapist directly for frozen shoulder?
Yes, in specified circumstances. The Government introduced a direct-access arrangement under the Allied Health Professions Ordinance (Cap. 359) in July 2025; one of the circumstances is when the physiotherapist holds a document, issued by a registered medical practitioner or a registered Chinese medicine practitioner within the past 12 months, that states the diagnosis, in which case the physiotherapist may only provide services for the condition of that diagnosis (Primary Healthcare Commission clinical guideline for first-contact physiotherapists, first issued December 2025).
Shoulder pain caused by adhesive capsulitis is listed as a musculoskeletal problem that is common in primary care and that physiotherapy can manage effectively; if the condition has not improved after one course of treatment (30 days or 10 treatment sessions, whichever comes first), the physiotherapist must refer the patient to a doctor for review and management (Primary Healthcare Commission clinical guideline for first-contact physiotherapists, December 2025).
Can I see a chiropractor directly for frozen shoulder?
Yes, directly: Hong Kong law does not require a referral before seeing a chiropractor (see Do you need a referral to see a chiropractor?). Under the Chiropractors Registration Ordinance (Cap. 428), chiropractors are persons trained and qualified in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of functional disorders of the human body through manipulation of the joints, particularly of the vertebral column and peripheral joints, including the pelvis; a chiropractor should refer a patient whose condition needs alternate care to the appropriate healthcare practitioner (Chiropractors Council of Hong Kong, Code of Practice, Part II).
This site does not compare or rank family doctors, physiotherapists and registered chiropractors; the site's chiropractor list is ordered by English name.
Public or private?
For the steps to book a new case at a public specialist outpatient clinic, see How to book a public specialist outpatient clinic, for orthopaedic waiting times, see public waiting times for orthopaedics, and for a general comparison of the two routes, see Public or private specialist?.
Frequently asked questions
Is frozen shoulder the same as 肩周炎, 五十肩 and 凝肩?
Frozen shoulder, known in Chinese as 肩周炎, is also called 五十肩 or 凝肩; it is inflammation of the soft tissue around the shoulder joint, mostly occurs in people aged over fifty, and is more common in women (Department of Health Elderly Health Service, accessed October 2026). Whether it is frozen shoulder is diagnosed by a doctor.
How is frozen shoulder treated?
Heat can be applied to the affected area to relieve pain, appropriate physiotherapy can reduce pain and shorten the course of the condition, and medicines must be used as the doctor instructs; when the pain eases, appropriate shoulder stretching exercises can be done to reduce stiffness of the shoulder joint (Department of Health Elderly Health Service, accessed October 2026). The treating doctor decides individual cases.
Which specialty should I see for frozen shoulder?
Family doctors are the main providers of primary healthcare (Health Bureau Primary Healthcare Blueprint, December 2022); anyone with questions about care can ask a healthcare professional or a physiotherapist (Department of Health Elderly Health Service, accessed October 2026). Which specialty follows up frozen shoulder is decided by the treating doctor.
Can I see a physiotherapist directly for frozen shoulder?
From July 2025, a physiotherapist who holds a document issued by a registered medical practitioner or a registered Chinese medicine practitioner within the past 12 months, stating the diagnosis, may provide services without referral for the condition of that diagnosis; if the condition has not improved after one course of treatment, the physiotherapist must refer the patient to a doctor (Primary Healthcare Commission clinical guideline for first-contact physiotherapists, December 2025).