Frozen shoulder, known medically as adhesive capsulitis, is one of the more demoralizing shoulder problems because it arrives slowly and overstays its welcome. The capsule around the joint becomes thick, tight, and painful, and over months your range of motion quietly disappears. Reaching a seatbelt, fastening a bra, or putting on a jacket becomes a daily reminder of how stiff the shoulder has become.
What is actually happening
In a frozen shoulder, the connective tissue around the ball-and-socket joint becomes inflamed and then contracts, like a shrink-wrap tightening around the joint. It typically moves through phases: a painful freezing stage, a stiff frozen stage, and a slow thawing stage. Left entirely alone it can resolve, but that can take a year or more, and many people are not willing to lose that much time and function.
How StemWave shockwave therapy may help
StemWave delivers focused acoustic waves into the tissue around the shoulder, and it is used alongside the guided mobility work that does the real job in a frozen shoulder. It is non-invasive, with no needles, no medication, and no downtime, and the intensity is tailored to your comfort during the session.
Shockwave is usually one part of a plan. Pairing it with hands-on physical therapy and a progressive stretching and strengthening program is what tends to move a stiff shoulder forward, and at JOI those pieces are coordinated under one roof.
What care looks like at JOI
Your care starts with an evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes of shoulder pain and stiffness. If StemWave is appropriate, it is delivered as a short series of sessions, each about 30 minutes, with no recovery time afterward. Your surgeon and physical therapist work from the same plan, so the treatment and the rehab reinforce each other.
Is it right for you?
Shockwave may be worth a conversation if:
- Your shoulder has been stiff and painful for weeks or months.
- Everyday motions like reaching overhead or behind your back are limited.
- You want to avoid jumping straight to injections or surgery.
- You want a non-invasive option that fits around your life.
This is general education, not a promise of a specific result. Candidacy is confirmed at your consultation, and we will give you a straight answer about whether shockwave, therapy, or another path fits your shoulder best.
Clear pricing, fast access
As a cash-based, out-of-network Direct Specialty Care practice, JOI shows you one transparent price before you book, with no prior-authorization runaround and no surprise bills. StemWave shockwave is cash only. It is not covered by any insurance, so there is no claim to file and nothing arrives afterwards. The price you see is the entire transaction. The consultation is $50 and a single session is $200. Most patients are treated as a course rather than one visit, so the one-joint package is $1,500 and the two-joint package is $2,600. Which of these fits you is decided at your consultation, and the full list is on our pricing page. See StemWave pricing and our full price list, and get in to see a double board-certified shoulder and sports surgeon in days, not months.
Tired of waiting out a frozen shoulder? Book a visit and let us map a plan to get your motion back.