Rotator Cuff and Shoulder Pain Physiotherapy
Understanding the shoulder and rotator cuff injuries
Shoulder pain can make daily tasks — reaching overhead, sleeping on your side, lifting, or even getting dressed — surprisingly difficult. Rotator cuff injuries, shoulder impingement, and related conditions are among the most common orthopedic problems physiotherapists treat. With the right assessment and a targeted treatment plan, most people see meaningful improvement without surgery. At InHealth Physiotherapy, our team brings deep musculoskeletal expertise to every shoulder assessment.
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that surround and stabilize the shoulder joint. Injuries range from mild tendinopathy (irritation and inflammation of the tendon) to partial or complete tears of the tendon itself. Common presentations include:
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Rotator cuff tendinopathy or tendinitis — pain and tenderness with overhead activity
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Rotator cuff tears — partial or full, from acute injury or gradual wear
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Shoulder impingement syndrome — compression of rotator cuff structures with arm elevation
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Shoulder bursitis — inflammation of the fluid-filled sac cushioning the joint
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Post-surgical rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair
Pain is often felt on the outer side of the shoulder or upper arm, and may worsen with reaching, lifting, or lying on the affected side. Weakness and a limited range of motion often accompany the pain.
How We Treat Shoulder and Rotator Cuff Conditions
A thorough assessment is the starting point. Your physiotherapist will evaluate your shoulder strength, range of motion, joint mechanics, and how the surrounding muscles — including those of the neck, upper back, and scapula — are contributing to your pain.
Treatment is built around your specific findings and may include:
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Manual therapy — joint mobilization and soft tissue work to improve shoulder mechanics and reduce pain
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Targeted exercise rehabilitation — progressive strengthening of the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers
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Shockwave Therapy — an effective, evidence-supported option for persistent rotator cuff tendinopathy
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Acupuncture — to support pain relief and reduce tissue inflammation
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Interferential Current (IFC) and TENS — for acute pain management
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Postural and movement re-education — addressing the upstream patterns that load the shoulder
For post-surgical cases, your physiotherapist will work from your surgeon's protocol, progressing your rehabilitation safely and systematically.
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