The stiff shoulder; A case study

•Careful clinical examination informed by the evidence base will aid diagnosis.•Appropriate use of imaging will assist the clinician to establish the correct diagnosis.•An accurate diagnosis will enable clinicians to educate and inform patients appropriately.•Early diagnosis may help prevent unnecessary deterioration of the condition.

Clinicians working in outpatient departments and advanced practitioner clinics frequently encounter patients presenting with multidirectional stiffness of the glenohumeral joint.This case report describes the assessment and treatment of a patient presenting with glenohumeral joint stiffness and describes the possible differential diagnoses. The evidence base used to inform the decision-making process is presented and the use of radiology that helped to ultimately establish the diagnosis is discussed. The clinical reasoning process of applying knowledge and experience to identify patient problems and to make appropriate decisions that result in positive patient outcomes is discussed.The case report highlights the importance of early diagnosis.