Frozen shoulder can be a painful, disabling and prolonged condition that is commonly managed in the primary care setting. It can either occur spontaneously without an obvious predisposing cause or be associated with a variety of local or systemic disorders. True frozen shoulder is a clinical diagnosis, which can be easily spotted in general practice. The aim of this article is to define the clinical features of frozen shoulder and how to distinguish it from other painful conditions that can affect the shoulder. The possible aetiology, clinical findings and management options are discussed.