Shoulder pain can affect everything from getting dressed and reaching overhead to sleeping, working, lifting weights or playing sport.
Sometimes the problem starts suddenly after an injury. Other times, it gradually becomes more uncomfortable over weeks or months.
At Summit Physio, we’ll assess what’s happening, explain what may be contributing to your symptoms and build a rehabilitation plan around the things you want to get back to.
The shoulder is capable of a huge amount of movement.
That mobility allows you to reach, lift, throw, push and pull, but it also means many different muscles, tendons and joints need to work together.
Shoulder pain may be influenced by:
That’s why treatment shouldn’t begin with assumptions.
We first need to understand your symptoms, your movement and what you need your shoulder to do.
Shoulder problems can present in different ways.
You may experience:
These symptoms don’t necessarily tell us exactly what is causing the problem.
A full assessment helps us understand which factors appear most relevant.
There isn’t one single cause of shoulder pain.
Possible factors may include:
Sometimes pain may also be referred from the neck rather than coming directly from the shoulder.
That’s why assessing the surrounding areas can be just as important as looking at the painful spot itself.
Physiotherapy can help you understand the problem, improve movement and gradually rebuild the strength and confidence needed for everyday life, work or sport.
Your treatment plan may include:
If your shoulder feels stiff or certain movements are restricted, we can work on restoring appropriate movement.
Building strength around the shoulder, shoulder blade and upper body can be an important part of rehabilitation.
Exercises are selected around your assessment and progressed as your shoulder becomes more capable.
Hands-on treatment may be useful for some people alongside active rehabilitation.
We can help you understand what you can continue doing, what may need modifying and how to build activity back up.
If your goal is lifting, throwing or returning to sport, rehabilitation can progress towards those higher-level demands.
Your first appointment is about getting clarity.
Night pain is a common reason people seek help for shoulder problems.
You may find it difficult to:
Night pain can occur with several different shoulder conditions, so the symptom alone doesn’t tell us the cause.
An assessment can help identify what appears to be contributing and how best to manage it.
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that help control and move the shoulder.
Problems in this area may cause:
Rehabilitation often focuses on gradually rebuilding strength and tolerance rather than simply resting the shoulder.
Your exact programme will depend on your assessment and goals.
Frozen shoulder can cause significant stiffness and pain.
People often notice difficulty with movements such as:
The condition can take time to improve and often progresses through different stages.
Physiotherapy can help with:
If your symptoms suggest frozen shoulder, we’ll explain what to expect and whether further medical input may be useful.
Shoulder injuries are common in sports involving:
If your shoulder has been injured during sport, rehabilitation may progress through:
The acromioclavicular, or AC, joint sits at the top of the shoulder.
It can be injured following a fall or direct impact onto the shoulder, particularly during contact sports.
Symptoms may include:
The right approach depends on the severity of the injury.
Physiotherapy may focus on restoring movement, strength and confidence before returning to full activity.
Rehabilitation is often an important part of recovery following shoulder surgery.
Depending on your procedure and your surgeon’s guidance, physiotherapy may focus on:
Your programme should always respect the specific restrictions and timescales set by your surgical team.
Shoulder symptoms may be influenced by movement, strength, the neck, training and everyday activity.
We want to understand what appears to be contributing before deciding what you need.
Your exercises develop as your shoulder becomes stronger and more capable.
Reaching into a cupboard, getting back to work and returning to competitive sport all require different rehabilitation plans.
Choose the Summit location that works best for you.
Wrightington Hotel & Country Club
Moss Lane
Wigan
Greater Manchester
WN6 9PB
Not necessarily.
You may benefit from temporarily modifying certain activities, but complete rest is not always required.
Your physiotherapist can help you understand which movements are appropriate.
Often, yes.
You may need to change certain exercises, loads or ranges of movement while symptoms settle.
The aim is usually to keep you active where possible.
Potentially.
Some exercises may need adapting temporarily, but you may still be able to train around the problem.
Your physiotherapist can help you decide what is appropriate.
Night pain can occur with several shoulder conditions.
It may be influenced by irritation, inflammation, stiffness or the position you sleep in.
If it’s persistent, assessment can help clarify what may be contributing.
Pain during arm elevation can be caused by several different shoulder problems.
Strength, tendon sensitivity, joint movement and load tolerance may all be relevant.
Not always.
Clicking and popping can occur in healthy shoulders.
If clicking is painful, associated with weakness or follows an injury, it may be worth assessing.
Yes.
Some neck problems can refer pain into the shoulder or upper arm.
Your physiotherapist can assess both areas to help understand where symptoms may be coming from.
Physiotherapy is commonly used to manage rotator cuff-related shoulder pain.
Rehabilitation often focuses on gradually improving strength, movement and tolerance to activity.
Physiotherapy may help manage movement, function and strength during the different stages of frozen shoulder.
Recovery can take time, so understanding the condition and setting realistic expectations is important.
Not everybody with shoulder pain needs imaging.
Your physiotherapist can assess your symptoms and advise whether further medical investigation may be appropriate.
There isn’t one standard timeframe.
It depends on the type of problem, how long it has been present and what you want to return to.
In most cases, you can book private physiotherapy directly.
If you’re using medical insurance, check whether your provider requires a referral or authorisation.
Seek prompt medical assessment if:
If you’re unsure about the severity of your symptoms, seek appropriate medical advice.
Whether shoulder pain is affecting sleep, work, exercise or sport, start by understanding what’s going on.
We’ll assess the problem, explain what we find and help you build the movement, strength and confidence to move forward.
