Bones, joints & muscles
The shoulder moves in more directions than any other joint, which makes it both flexible and easy to irritate. At our Opera House clinic we find out why your shoulder hurts and plan care that restores comfortable, confident movement.
Shoulder pain can come from the joint itself, the tendons of the rotator cuff, the bursa, the shoulder blade or the neck. It can follow an injury or develop slowly from overuse or posture.
The shoulder depends on many structures working together. If the shoulder blade moves poorly or the rotator cuff muscles are weak, tendons can become irritated when you lift your arm. This is often called impingement or rotator cuff-related shoulder pain.
Shoulder pain is different from a frozen shoulder, where the joint becomes stiff in all directions. Telling these apart is a key part of assessment, because the treatment plans differ.
We start by asking when the pain began, what you were doing, what aggravates it and how it affects work, sport and sleep. Then we examine the shoulder, shoulder blade, neck and upper back.
Care is shaped by what your assessment shows. We calm the pain first and then rebuild strength and control.
Working out which activities to adjust for now so the shoulder can settle without becoming weak and stiff.
Mobilisation and soft-tissue techniques to the shoulder, shoulder blade, neck and upper back, within your comfort.
Graded exercises that build strength and control so your tendons tolerate everyday and sporting loads.
If assessment shows fascial restrictions around the shoulder girdle, it may be added as one part of your plan.
Read about this techniqueImproving how the shoulder blade and upper back move, with practical changes to desk and gym habits.
Step-by-step progression back to overhead work, lifting or sport, with clear guidance on pacing.
Physiotherapy suits people with shoulder pain from overuse, rotator cuff irritation, posture or sporting strain, as well as those recovering after a minor injury. We make no promises of cure, and we will tell you if a doctor’s opinion or a scan is needed first.
Pain on lifting the arm, a painful arc and weakness in certain directions often point to the rotator cuff. Examination of how the shoulder moves and its strength helps us tell, and a scan is not always needed.
Usually we advise adjusting rather than stopping. Keeping the shoulder moving within comfort avoids stiffness, while avoiding the specific movements that sharply hurt lets it settle.
It describes pain when tendons or the bursa are pinched or irritated as the arm is lifted. It is often linked with weak rotator cuff or shoulder blade muscles, which exercise can help.
Yes. Pain from the neck can be felt in the shoulder and upper arm. We check your neck as part of the shoulder assessment.
Many shoulder problems improve with physiotherapy alone. If your doctor is considering other options, we will work alongside them and tell you if we think a medical opinion would help.
In most cases yes, with changes. We will tell you which exercises to modify or pause and how to bring them back gradually.
In frozen shoulder the joint is stiff in all directions, even when someone else moves your arm. With rotator cuff-related pain, the joint usually moves freely but hurts or feels weak when you lift it yourself.
Your physiotherapist
Dr. Akshay Bandekar is the founder of The Posture Perfect Physiotherapy Clinic.
Qualifications: BPTh, MIAP, COMT
Advanced training: Visceral Manipulation (USA), Fascial Manipulation (Italy), Craniosacral Therapy (USA)
Meet the teamBook an assessment at our Opera House clinic and we will plan your care together.
This website provides general information, not a diagnosis or personal medical advice. A qualified healthcare professional should assess your symptoms and advise on suitable care. Seek urgent medical attention for sudden weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, chest pain, or other severe new symptoms.
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