Shoulder Pain Physiotherapy in Norwich
Shoulder pain can affect sleep, dressing, reaching, lifting, work, gym activity, and sport. Common presentations include rotator cuff-related pain, frozen shoulder, instability, tendon irritation, arthritis, and recovery after injury or surgery.
Most shoulder problems benefit from staying appropriately active and rebuilding movement and strength with a plan matched to the stage of recovery.
Which Cliniko appointment should I book?
If this is your first appointment for this concern, choose Initial MSK Physiotherapy – 45 mins (Muscle, Joint & Sports Injuries) or Initial MSK Physiotherapy – 60 mins (Muscle, Joint & Sports Injuries). If Ellie has already assessed you for this concern, choose Follow-up MSK Physiotherapy – 45 mins (Muscle, Joint & Sports Injuries), Follow-up MSK Physiotherapy – 60 mins (Muscle, Joint & Sports Injuries), or Follow-up MSK Physiotherapy – 90 mins (Muscle, Joint & Sports Injuries).
Common symptoms
- Pain lifting the arm or reaching behind your back.
- Night pain or difficulty lying on the affected side.
- Stiffness or a gradual loss of movement.
- Weakness with carrying, pushing, pulling, or overhead activity.
- Clicking, apprehension, or a feeling of instability.
How physiotherapy can help
- Assessing the shoulder, neck, upper back, strength, and movement pattern.
- Progressive rotator cuff and shoulder-blade strengthening.
- Restoring movement without repeatedly provoking symptoms.
- Modifying work, gym, sleep, and sport during recovery.
- Soft-tissue or myofascial release, trigger-point techniques, shoulder, neck, or upper-back mobilisation, taping, acupuncture, or dry needling where appropriate.
- Rehabilitation after dislocation or surgery in line with specialist guidance.
Seek urgent assessment if
The shoulder is deformed after injury, you suddenly cannot lift the arm, there is marked swelling, redness, heat, or fever, or shoulder pain occurs with chest pain, breathlessness, palpitations, or pain spreading to the jaw.
FAQ
Do I need an injection or scan? Not always. Physiotherapy assessment and rehabilitation are often appropriate first, with referral when symptoms or findings suggest further investigation.
Can physiotherapy help frozen shoulder? Yes. Advice, movement, symptom management, and gradual strengthening can support recovery, although the condition may take time.
Should I avoid overhead movement? Not automatically. Temporary modification may help, followed by graded exposure and strengthening.
Can shoulder pain come from the neck? Yes. Neck and nerve-related symptoms can refer into the shoulder or arm.
Further information
For a shoulder plan built around sleep, work, or sport, view appointments and book.