Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) has long been viewed as a purely local inflammatory and fibrotic shoulder problem. Newer research instead suggests that frozen shoulder sits at the intersection of hormonal, neuroendocrine, metabolic and psychosocial systems, rather than being just a structural joint issue. This article summarises key evidence on how stress, mood, hormones and metabolism interact with the shoulder capsule and may shape onset, severity and recovery. Hormon