Shoulder pain
book nowThere is strong evidence that physical therapy is effective as a first line treatment of shoulder pain once serious injury has been ruled out. If you have developed shoulder pain over time we can help identify the key factors related to it and build a plan to get you back to full capacity.
Assessment of shoulder pain:
We first undertake a comprehensive history in order to hear your story, how the shoulder pain began and how it impacts on all aspects of your life. We will also screen for serious causes of shoulder pain.
We will then perform a comprehensive examination of the shoulder and surrounding regions. We are most interested in the postures and activities that you find restricting. This includes an assessment of the sensitivity of the structures to touch, move and load, the mobility of the shoulder and neck, and the ability to relax the muscles in the region, as well as the strength of these muscles.
Treatment of shoulder pain:
Based on all this information we will then explain to you in simple language, where the pain is coming from, the factors that are contributing to your pain, and discuss the best treatments options available to you.
Our practitioners can first help identify the main contributing factors associated with your shoulder pain. Based on this we can develop a plan that may involve a range of strategies to assist with things such as getting your shoulder moving, reducing pain and getting it stronger. This may involve hands-on therapies for a short period and will always involve exercise.
Sometimes it is scary to get a painful shoulder moving and we can provide you strategies to move which minimise discomfort. It is also important to know that it is safe to get active treatment even in the presence of the following diagnoses: rotator cuff tear, rotator cuff tendinopathy, labral tear, subacromial bursitis, subacromial impingement, shoulder arthritis, frozen shoulder, and acromio-clavicular joint pain.
Shoulders need movement and strength to stay healthy, so setting up a graduated plan to get active is very important. We will identify your goals and ensure the treatment plan is directed towards these. For some people this process may take 2-3 sessions, however for long term problems this may take up to 7-10 sessions over a 3-4 month period.
At Back in Balance, we are not interested in ongoing band-aid treatments for your pain. We know that the best approach to management is to help you understand why you have pain and what can be done about it, to put you back in control, moving more, and living life again.
Is pain or injury holding you back?
Book online below and start your journey to recovery.