Shoulder Pain

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Shoulder Pain

Expert Solutions for Shoulder Pain

At Mid West Physiotherapy, we understand how shoulder pain can severely limit your ability to move freely and enjoy both daily activities and physical pursuits. Whether you’re recovering from a sports injury, dealing with a chronic condition like rotator cuff tendinitis, or simply experiencing the effects of aging and wear, our physiotherapists are here to help you regain mobility, strength, and comfort. With our expert care and treatment, we can help alleviate your discomfort quickly and guide you toward a long-lasting recovery.

We take a personalised approach to diagnosing and treating shoulder problems, ensuring that each treatment plan is tailored to your unique needs. Our goal is to help you return to your regular activities pain-free and to help prevent future injuries from occurring.

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Typical Shoulder Pain Conditions

Shoulder pain can arise from various causes, including injury, overuse, or degenerative conditions. Some of the most common shoulder issues we treat here at the clinic include:
  • Rotator cuff injuries (tears, tendinitis, or impingement)
  • Frozen Shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
  • Shoulder dislocation and subluxation
  • Labral tears
  • Acromioclavicular (AC) joint sprains and separations
  • Shoulder bursitis
  • Tendonitis and tendinopathy
If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, it may be related to one of the common conditions listed above. Typical symptoms of shoulder problems include:
  • Pain: This can range from a dull ache to sharp, intense pain, particularly when moving the shoulder, lifting, or reaching overhead.
  • Weakness: A sensation of weakness in the shoulder or difficulty lifting or carrying objects.
  • Limited range of motion: Difficulty raising your arm, reaching behind your back, or performing other daily movements.
  • Swelling or bruising: Swelling around the shoulder joint or bruising from an injury.
  • Sounds: Audible sounds when moving the shoulder e.g. clicking, popping, grinding or cracking.
  • Stiffness: Difficulty moving the shoulder due to tightness, especially in the morning or after rest.
  • Instability: A feeling of the shoulder “giving way” or discomfort when reaching out or during overhead activities.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek a professional assessment to determine the root cause and develop a customised treatment plan to address your needs.

The cornerstone of our assessment process is understanding how your shoulder pain is impacting your life. We focus on the factors that make the pain worse and those that provide relief. By gathering a comprehensive profile, we can create a treatment plan that not only aims to reduce pain but also restore function, improve strength, and promote a faster recovery.

Typically, you will be given a tailored exercise program to do at home. These exercises are designed to strengthen the muscles around the shoulder, improve mobility, and restore stability. We encourage you to follow this program consistently as it will accelerate your recovery. Throughout your treatment, your physiotherapist will guide and support you every step of the way. We’ll monitor your progress, make adjustments as needed, and celebrate every milestone.

Our goal isn’t just to relieve pain in the short term, but to empower you with the tools and knowledge to maintain your recovery, prevent future injuries, and enhance long-term shoulder health.

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FAQs - Physiotherapy for Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including overuse, poor posture, sports injuries, or age-related wear and tear. Common causes include rotator cuff injuries, frozen shoulder, tendonitis, bursitis, or shoulder dislocations. It’s important to consult with a physiotherapist to pinpoint the exact cause of your pain and develop an effective treatment plan.
If your shoulder pain is persistent, limits your range of motion, or affects daily activities like lifting, reaching, or sleeping, physiotherapy can help. It’s also a good idea to seek physiotherapy if you’re experiencing weakness, instability, or if your pain doesn’t improve with rest. A physiotherapist can assess your condition and guide you through the most effective treatment plan.

Physiotherapy offers many benefits, including:

  • Pain relief: Reduce discomfort and inflammation through targeted treatments and exercises, minimising reliance on pain medication.
  • Improved mobility: Restore flexibility and range of motion, making it easier to perform everyday tasks and activities.
  • Strengthening: Build strength in the muscles around the shoulder to provide better support and prevent future strain.
  • Non-surgical treatment: Many shoulder conditions can be treated effectively without the need for surgery, making physiotherapy a safe and effective solution for shoulder pain.
All of our physiotherapists at Mid West Physiotherapy are highly trained and experienced in shoulder pain and injuries. Any one of our team would be delighted to create a recovery plan with you to resolve your shoulder issue and get you back doing what you love best.
During your first visit to us, your physiotherapist will conduct a thorough assessment to better understand your condition, lifestyle and recovery goals. This will include:
  • A discussion of your medical history, symptoms, lifestyle and recovery goals.
  • A physical examination to evaluate your posture, flexibility, strength, and movement.
  • Identifying the underlying causes of your pain.
  • Development of a customised treatment plan.

Your treatment plan will focus on both relieving your pain and improving your long-term mobility. We will explain every step of the process so you can feel confident in your care.

Our treatment techniques include:
  • Manual therapy: Hands-on techniques to relieve tension, improve joint mobility and reduce pain.
  • Therapeutic exercises: Customised rehabilitation programmes to strengthen weak muscles, improve flexibility, and restore optimal movement.
  • Posture and biomechanical assessment: We evaluate your posture and movement patterns to identify contributing factors to shoulder pain.
  • Heat therapy: To reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
  • Ultrasound therapy: To relieve certain soft tissue injuries and inflammation.
  • Shockwave therapy: To relieve certain soft tissue injuries, chronic conditions and musculoskeletal issues
  • Electrical stimulation: To help reduce pain and stimulate muscle function.
  • Taping, bracing amd supports: Therapeutic taping techniques, bracing or supports can help stabilise the shoulder and relieve pressure on damaged tissues during the healing process.
  • Dry needling: A technique used to target trigger points in muscles and release tension.
  • Education: We educate you on body mechanics, posture and movement techniques to prevent further injury and ensure proper healing.

Your physiotherapist will incorporate the most appropriate treatment techniques and modalities into your recovery programme. 

In most cases you will not need an x-ray or MRI, unless you have been advised to do so by a doctor or physiotherapist.
The frequency of visits will depend on your pain/injury, treatment goals, and progress. In the early stages of recovery, you may need to visit weekly. As you improve, the frequency will decrease, and you may transition to home exercises. Your physiotherapist will continuously assess your progress and adjust your treatment schedule accordingly.
The recovery time for shoulder pain depends on the type and severity of the issue. For mild conditions, you will hopefully see improvement within a few weeks with the help of your physiotherapy and rehabilitation programme. However, for more severe injuries, such as rotator cuff tears or post-surgery rehabilitation, recovery could take several months. Your physiotherapist will work closely with you to set realistic goals and adjust your treatment plan as you progress.
Not necessarily. While rest is important in the initial stages of healing, your physiotherapist will guide you on how to perform modified exercises to stay active without aggravating your shoulder. Active rest—engaging in low-impact activities—can help maintain strength and flexibility as you recover.

Your physiotherapist will guide you on the best ways to prevent future shoulder pain or injury. Recommendations may include:

  • Strengthening the muscles around the shoulder (rotator cuff, deltoids, and scapular stabilisers).
  • Improving flexibility to maintain full range of motion.
  • Correcting posture and movement patterns (working with a physiotherapist to address any biomechanical issues).
  • Avoiding repetitive overhead motions that could strain the shoulder. Incorporating exercises to improve shoulder stability and control.
The UK Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has excellent resources on their website on shoulder pain. Here you will find evidence-based facts, videos and guidance to help you overcome your shoulder pain.

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If you’re ready to take the first step towards resolving your shoulder pain, book your appointment today. You can book online via the button below, or you can contact our reception team on 061-201444.
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