Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can be one of the most frustrating conditions to live with. It disrupts sleep, limits what you can do at work, and takes away activities you enjoy — from swimming and gym training to simply reaching for a shelf. The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, which also makes it one of the most vulnerable to injury.

Book appointment

Call 0161 401 1000

At Altius Healthcare, we treat the full spectrum of shoulder conditions — from acute rotator cuff injuries and frozen shoulder to post-surgical rehabilitation following shoulder replacement or arthroscopic repair. Our team combines manual physiotherapy with progressive strengthening, and where needed, shockwave therapy and joint injections to manage pain and accelerate your recovery.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain We Treat

Shoulder pain has a wide range of potential causes, and correct diagnosis drives effective treatment. The conditions we see most often include:

• Rotator cuff injuries — tears, tendinopathy, and impingement affecting the group of muscles and tendons that stabilise the shoulder joint
• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) — progressive stiffness and pain that restricts movement, often without a clear cause
• Shoulder impingement syndrome — pain when lifting the arm, caused by compression of the rotator cuff tendons beneath the acromion
• AC joint injuries — from falls or direct impact, and other common sports injuries.
• Shoulder instability and dislocation — recurrent subluxation or post-dislocation rehabilitation
• Post-surgical rehabilitation — following rotator cuff repair, shoulder replacement, labral repair, or decompression surgery
• Referred pain from the cervical spine — neck problems masquerading as shoulder pain, which requires a different treatment approach entirely

The last point is particularly important. A significant proportion of “shoulder pain” presentations actually originate in the neck. Without a thorough assessment that screens for cervical involvement, you risk treating the wrong structure. This is something we check in every shoulder assessment at Altius.

How We Assess and Treat Shoulder Pain

Your initial appointment includes a detailed assessment of shoulder range of motion, rotator cuff strength, joint stability, and cervical spine screening. We use specific clinical tests to identify the structure at fault and the stage of your condition, because the treatment for a frozen shoulder in the freezing phase is different from one in the thawing phase — and the treatment for impingement is different from a rotator cuff tear.

Based on your assessment findings, your treatment plan may include:

Manual Physiotherapy and Progressive Loading

Hands-on mobilisation to restore range of motion, combined with a carefully staged strengthening programme. Shoulder rehabilitation is rarely fast — but done properly, it produces lasting results. We’ll progress your exercises as your shoulder allows, not on a fixed timeline.

Shockwave Therapy

For calcific tendinopathy and chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy that hasn’t responded to conventional physiotherapy, shockwave therapy can break down calcific deposits and stimulate tendon healing. The evidence base for shockwave in calcific shoulder tendinopathy is particularly strong.

Ostenil and Corticosteroid Injections

For frozen shoulder presentations with significant pain and sleep disturbance, or for inflammatory conditions limiting your ability to rehabilitate, a targeted Ostenil or corticosteroid injection can provide a window of reduced pain during which physiotherapy becomes more effective. We always pair injections with a structured rehabilitation programme.

Post-Surgical Rehabilitation

If you’ve had rotator cuff repair, decompression surgery, or shoulder replacement, our team follows evidence-based post-operative protocols that balance tissue healing timelines with progressive restoration of movement and strength. We work with your surgeon’s guidelines and adapt your programme as you progress.

Your Shoulder Pain Specialist Team

Our physiotherapists have extensive experience with shoulder conditions across all stages — from acute injury through to late-stage rehabilitation and return to sport. All clinicians hold HCPC registration and are members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Meet our team.