No referral required for initial assessment
Virtual assessment options may be available
A frozen shoulder diagnosis is usually based on your symptoms, medical history, and physical examination. Imaging may be used when another condition needs to be ruled out.
Which directions are restricted, and how much — the signature of frozen shoulder is loss in multiple directions.
Where the pain sits, how it behaves, and how long symptoms have been building.
Whether motion is limited both when you move the arm and when the examiner moves it for you.
Medical risk factors — such as diabetes, thyroid conditions, or recent immobilization — are reviewed alongside the exam, because they change both likelihood and treatment planning.
X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI are not always required to diagnose frozen shoulder, but they may help identify arthritis, rotator cuff injury, calcific tendinitis, or other causes of pain and stiffness.
If the exam raises the possibility of a different diagnosis — or if a prior injury, surgery, or unusual symptom pattern needs clarification — imaging helps make sure the treatment path fits the actual problem.
The more of your history the specialist can see, the more precise the assessment. Gather what you have; missing items won't stop the review.
The point of diagnosis is not just to name the problem. It is to decide which treatment options make sense for your stage and situation.
A diagnostic assessment reviews your history, motion, and prior treatment — and turns the diagnosis into a plan you can actually act on.
Individual results vary. A specialist assessment is required before determining suitability for any treatment.
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