Ultrasound-guided hydrodilatation for frozen shoulder at our Station House clinic in Sandbach, Cheshire. A minimally invasive injection that stretches the tight joint capsule and calms inflammation, to help you get your shoulder moving again.
- £500 for hydrodilatation with corticosteroid
- Usually 15 to 30 minutes, home the same day
- Every injection placed under live ultrasound
- Works best alongside physiotherapy
What is hydrodilatation?
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a condition where the shoulder becomes stiff and painful because the capsule around the joint becomes inflamed and tight. Hydrodilatation treats it by injecting local anaesthetic and corticosteroid into the shoulder joint, then expanding the capsule with a high volume of sterile saline. This stretches the tight tissue and reduces inflammation.
Benefits of hydrodilatation
- Better range of motion. Expanding the capsule stretches the tight tissue, which can improve shoulder movement more quickly than other conservative treatments.
- Pain relief. The corticosteroid reduces inflammation, and many patients feel rapid relief after the procedure.
- Minimally invasive. A non-surgical procedure with local anaesthetic, fewer risks and a shorter recovery than shoulder surgery.
- Quick. The procedure usually takes 15 to 30 minutes and you go home the same day.
- Faster recovery. Patients often notice better shoulder function within days or weeks, especially when combined with physiotherapy.
- Can avoid surgery. For many patients it can delay or prevent the need for procedures such as arthroscopic surgery.
Who is it for?
Patients in the early to middle stages of frozen shoulder, when stiffness and pain are at their worst, often benefit most. For more advanced cases, or where conservative treatments have not worked, it can be a valuable option before considering surgery. Nationally, hydrodilatation has a success rate of over 70% in improving shoulder movement and over 90% in improving pain.
Hydrodilatation and physiotherapy
Frozen shoulder is often slow to resolve and very irritable. A hydrodilatation injection combined with intensive physiotherapy can shorten recovery and restore function, because less pain and more movement make it easier to do your exercises. Your physio can start soon after the procedure to keep the movement you have gained. Our shoulder pain exercises are a good place to start.
Hydrodilatation price
Hydrodilatation with corticosteroid costs £500.
Who will treat you
Every injection is performed by Ben Harper, our Injection Service Lead, under live ultrasound imaging so the needle is placed exactly where it is needed. Ben was a lead clinician for Team GB at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games and holds a postgraduate certificate in musculoskeletal ultrasound.
How to get started
- Register for an injection. The form covers your symptoms, medical history and consent.
- Our team reviews your registration. If you have recent imaging or a consultant referral that confirms your diagnosis, you may be able to book your hydrodilatation directly.
- Not sure what is causing your pain? Book a pre-injection consultation, where Ben uses ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis and talks you through the options.
- After your appointment you will receive a letter outlining the findings and treatment, including any medication and dosage, to pass on to your GP.
Frozen shoulder treatment near Crewe, Holmes Chapel and Middlewich
Looking for frozen shoulder treatment in Cheshire? All of our injections take place at Station House in Sandbach, on the corner of Sandbach station and less than a minute’s walk from the platform. It is the first stop after Crewe and there is plenty of parking.
Patients travel to us from Crewe (about six miles), Middlewich (about four miles), Holmes Chapel, Northwich and across Cheshire, and you do not need a GP referral. Find out more about our joint injection service.
