Shoulder pain and injuries
Reaching overhead, lying on it, lifting or training. Assessment looks at the shoulder and the mid-back that drives it.
- No referral needed
- Book directly. Claim on the spot with eligible private health extras.
- Open six days
- Monday to Friday 8am–7pm, Saturday 8am–2pm.
- First visit
- Allow 45 minutes to an hour. Wear shorts and a loose top.
- Rear entrance
- 92 Parsons Street, Kensington, inside Renegade BJJ.
The shoulder rarely works alone
Reaching overhead is shared between the shoulder joint, the shoulder blade and the mid-back. When one of them stops doing its share, the others work harder, and the shoulder is usually the one that complains.
That's why a shoulder assessment here checks how your upper back and shoulder blade move as well as the shoulder itself. Why your shoulder hurts and your mid-back is the reason explains more.
Some shoulder problems do sit in the shoulder itself, and those need their own approach.
What we see most
Rotator cuff pain
Pain on the outside of the shoulder reaching up or out, lying on that side, or lifting. Usually from tendons that have been loaded more than they're ready for.
Frozen shoulder
A steady loss of movement in every direction, often with night pain. Most common between 40 and 60. It takes time, often a year or more, and treatment focuses on comfort and keeping movement.
AC joint sprains
Pain on the top of the shoulder after a fall onto the point of the shoulder, common in cycling, football and combat sports.
Shoulder instability
A shoulder that feels like it slips or comes out. A first dislocation needs a doctor and usually imaging before rehab.
Lifting and training shoulders
Bench press, overhead pressing, swimming and grappling. Powerlifting injuries and returning to sparring after a shoulder injury cover these.
Desk shoulders
Aching across the top of the shoulders and between the shoulder blades from long screen days.
When to see a doctor first
Call 000 or go to an emergency department if you have:
- Shoulder or arm pain with chest pain, breathlessness, sweating or nausea
- A shoulder that looks deformed or that you can't move after a fall
- A suspected dislocation, especially the first time
See your GP first if:
- Sudden loss of strength lifting the arm after an injury
- Shoulder pain with fever, or a hot, swollen joint
- Night pain that doesn't ease with position, with weight loss or feeling unwell
- Numbness or pins and needles into the arm that is getting worse
If anything in your assessment points to a doctor, we'll tell you and explain why, rather than treat.
How shoulder rehab usually runs
Each stage depends on how the shoulder copes, not on the calendar.
Settle it
Ease pain with hands-on treatment and by changing what loads it most for a while.
Restore movement
Mid-back and shoulder blade movement, and shoulder range as it allows.
Build strength
Gradual loading of the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles, in both directions. If exercises will help, we take you through them in the session and you film them on your phone, so you know exactly how they go at home or in the gym.
Get back to what you do
Overhead work, lifting, swimming or training, built up in steps until the shoulder handles it without flaring the next day.
How long does it usually take?
Typical ranges, not promises.
| Situation | Early change | Typical recovery |
|---|---|---|
| Recent irritation, mid-back stiffness | 1–3 weeks | 4–8 weeks |
| Rotator cuff tendon pain | 3–6 weeks | 3–6 months |
| Mild AC joint sprain | 1–3 weeks | 3–6 weeks |
| Frozen shoulder | Slow | Often 12 months or more |
Questions people ask
Why does my shoulder hurt when I reach overhead?
Often the rotator cuff tendons are irritated, and a stiff mid-back or shoulder blade can add to the load. An assessment checks both the shoulder and the areas that support it.
Is it frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder usually involves a steady loss of movement in every direction, often with night pain, and is most common between 40 and 60. Other shoulder problems tend to limit some movements and not others.
Can I keep lifting with a sore shoulder?
Often, with changes to range, load or exercise choice for a while. We go through what is fine this week and how to build back.
When is shoulder pain an emergency?
Call 000 if shoulder or arm pain comes with chest pain, breathlessness, sweating or nausea. A shoulder that looks deformed or that you cannot move after a fall needs emergency care.
Shoulder pain that keeps coming back?
Book an assessment in Kensington. No referral needed.