How can RHP Physiotherapy help you?
The shoulder can suffer injury from a fall or throw, but often will suffer some pain without a clear and obvious cause. The impact of this pain means a change to button up shirts and a reliance on the other arm for the impacted activities. The shoulder is a highly specialised and unique joint designed like a ball-and-socket for mobility.
As such, the shoulder relies on consistent control and stability afforded by our muscle system. The influence of the chest and upper back, pelvis and hips is important in setting up a platform for the shoulder to move well. Due to the whole body influence on shoulder pain, there is a need for good self-management strategies.
Understanding of sport and biomechanics to a high level will help you adjust some other factors that may also contribute to shoulder pain. Our therapists will discuss the injury with your coach and assist in supporting any technique changes if necessary.
Strength and endurance of muscles around the shoulder girdle will form a foundation for your recovery, while achieving better mobility or control in associated body regions will support that change.
Assessments will include:
The shoulder assessment involves the whole body, as dysfunction in other regions of the body often leads to the shoulder breaking down. For example, many swimmers with shoulder pain require improved hip flexibility to unload the shoulder joint during their stroke.
You may expect assessment of:
- Spinal posture and joint alignment
- Hip and lower leg flexibility and strength
- Shoulder girdle movement skills (biomechanics)
- Muscular strength and flexibility
- Sternocostal, acromioclavicular, and thoracic joint function
- Sports-specific technique, including video analysis, as required
RHP Shoulder Physiotherapy – FAQs
Common injuries we treat at RHP include:
- Rotator cuff tears and rotator cuff tendinopathy
- Shoulder impingement syndrome or subacromial bursitis
- Frozen shoulder (also known as adhesive capsulitis)
- Shoulder instability from a previous traumatic injury or injuries
- Strains or tears in the shoulder muscles or rotator cuff muscles
- Workplace or sporting injuries affecting the glenohumeral joint or shoulder blades
These injuries are often caused by repetitive overhead movements, falls, or direct impacts. Our shoulder physiotherapists provide accurate diagnosis and tailored shoulder rehabilitation programs to help you recover from your shoulder injury effectively.
Shoulder physiotherapy is highly effective in managing shoulder pain and helping with recovery. At RHP, our shoulder physiotherapist team focuses on:
- Manual therapy to improve mobility and reduce tightness in the shoulder muscles and surrounding structures.
- Strengthening exercises targeting the rotator cuff muscles, shoulder blades, and upper arm bone to improve shoulder strength and stability.
- Developing personalised physiotherapy treatment plans to help decrease pain, improve function, and prevent recurrence.
Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, sporting injuries, shoulder joint injuries, or workplace injuries, our experienced physiotherapist team at RHP offers a comprehensive approach to reduce pain and restore movement.
Rotator cuff tendinopathy is a condition where the rotator cuff tendons become inflamed or irritated, often from overuse or poor movement mechanics. Symptoms include:
- Pain when lifting your arm or reaching overhead
- Weakness in the shoulder, especially when lifting or rotating
- Shoulder pain that radiates down the arm to the elbow
Industry leading physiotherapy for rotator cuff tendinopathy involves manual therapy, strengthening exercises, and techniques to improve posture and movement, helping to reduce pain and restore function.
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is characterised by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint, making it difficult to move. Treatment at RHP includes:
- Manual therapy to gently mobilise the shoulder joint and improve movement.
- Strengthening exercises to target the shoulder muscles and increase flexibility.
- Advice on posture and movement strategies to prevent further complications.
Physiotherapy treatment can significantly help with frozen shoulder, improving your range of motion and reducing discomfort over time.
Shoulder impingement occurs when the tissues in the shoulder joint, such as the rotator cuff, are compressed during movement. Treatment at RHP includes:
- Manual therapy to relieve tight structures and restore shoulder joint mobility.
- Correcting any posture or movement issues that may be contributing to the problem.
- A customised rehabilitation program that includes strengthening exercises for the shoulder muscles, rotator cuff, and shoulder blade.
Regular physiotherapy can reduce pain and prevent the recurrence of shoulder impingement, allowing you to regain normal function.
A shoulder physiotherapy assessment at RHP involves:
- A detailed physical examination of the shoulder joint, rotator cuff muscles, and shoulder blades.
- Assessing your posture, range of motion, and any movement patterns that may be contributing to your shoulder pain or shoulder instability.
- Accurate diagnosis of the underlying issue, whether it’s a rotator cuff injury, subacromial bursitis, or another condition.
Following the assessment, our shoulder physiotherapists will develop a personalised physiotherapy treatment plan aimed at decreasing pain and improving mobility.