Our Philosophy on Treating Shoulder Pain

At Get Up Physical Therapy, we believe successful rehabilitation goes beyond simply reducing pain.

Shoulder pain can be influenced by joint mobility, muscle strength, movement coordination, training habits, posture, workload, and even how the shoulder blade moves.

Rather than chasing symptoms, we identify the factors contributing to your pain and build a treatment plan that promotes long-term recovery, not just temporary relief.

Our goal is to help you understand your condition, restore confidence in movement, and return to the activities you enjoy.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can develop for many different reasons, including:

• Rotator cuff tendinopathy

• Rotator cuff tears

• Shoulder impingement syndrome

• Shoulder bursitis

• Shoulder instability

• Labral injuries

• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)

• Biceps tendinopathy

• AC joint sprains

• Arthritis

• Sports injuries

• Repetitive overhead activities

Because many shoulder conditions produce similar symptoms, an accurate evaluation is essential to determine the true source of your pain.

Common Symptoms

Shoulder pain presents differently depending on the underlying condition.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain reaching overhead

• Pain lifting objects

• Pain sleeping on your side

• Weakness

• Loss of range of motion

• Clicking or catching sensations

• Pain behind or on the outside of the shoulder

• Difficulty reaching behind your back

• Pain during workouts or sports

• Shoulder stiffness

Every patient's presentation is unique, which is why treatment should always be individualized.

Why Does My Shoulder Pain Keep Coming Back?

Many people experience temporary relief with rest, massage, medication, or injections, only to have symptoms return. Often, the underlying contributing factors remain unaddressed.

Recurring shoulder pain may be related to:

• Rotator cuff weakness

• Reduced shoulder mobility

• Poor shoulder blade control

• Training errors

• Repetitive overhead activities

• Gradual increases in workload

• Limited thoracic spine mobility

Our goal is to identify these contributing factors so you can achieve long-term improvement instead of temporary symptom relief.

How Physical Therapy Can Help

Research supports physical therapy as an effective first-line treatment for many shoulder conditions.

Depending on your evaluation, treatment may include:

• Joint mobilization

• Soft tissue mobilization

• Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)

• Rotator cuff strengthening

• Scapular stabilization exercises

• Shoulder mobility exercises

• Thoracic mobility exercises

• Progressive strengthening

• Activity modification when needed

• Return-to-sport progression

• Individualized home exercise program

Every treatment plan is personalized based on your diagnosis, goals, activity level, and lifestyle.

Our Evaluation Process

Your first visit includes a comprehensive one-on-one assessment that may evaluate:

• Shoulder range of motion

• Rotator cuff strength

• Shoulder blade mechanics

• Joint mobility

• Muscle flexibility

• Functional movement

• Overhead movement patterns

• Lifting mechanics

• Sport-specific movements

• Activities that reproduce your symptoms

Understanding why your symptoms developed allows us to create a treatment plan focused on long-term recovery.

Who We Help

We commonly treat:

• Office professionals

• Active adults

• Weightlifters

• CrossFit athletes

• Baseball and softball players

• Swimmers

• Tennis and pickleball players

• Golfers

• Weekend warriors

• Individuals with physically demanding jobs

Whether your goal is lifting overhead without pain or returning to your favorite sport, treatment is individualized around your goals.

When Should You See a Physical Therapist?

Consider scheduling an evaluation if your shoulder pain:

• Persists longer than one to two weeks

• Continues returning

• Limits work or daily activities

• Prevents you from exercising

• Makes reaching overhead difficult

• Causes weakness

• Limits your range of motion

• Prevents comfortable sleep

Early treatment often leads to quicker recovery and reduces the likelihood of persistent symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I stop exercising if my shoulder hurts?

Not necessarily.

Many shoulder conditions improve with appropriate exercise rather than complete rest. The key is modifying activities based on your symptoms while gradually rebuilding strength and mobility.

Will I need surgery?

Not always.

Many shoulder conditions improve with conservative treatment. If your evaluation suggests additional medical consultation is appropriate, we'll discuss the next steps and coordinate with your physician when needed.

Can physical therapy help a rotator cuff injury?

Yes.

Many rotator cuff conditions respond well to individualized strengthening, mobility exercises, education, and progressive return to activity.

Is shoulder clicking normal?

Clicking or popping without pain is often normal. However, clicking accompanied by pain, weakness, or instability should be evaluated.

Should I use ice or heat?

Both may be appropriate depending on your condition. During your evaluation, we'll discuss which option best fits your symptoms.

How long does recovery take?

Recovery depends on your diagnosis, severity of symptoms, activity level, and consistency with treatment. Some individuals improve within several weeks, while more persistent conditions require a longer rehabilitation program.

Why Choose Get Up Physical Therapy?

• One-on-one, uninterrupted sessions with a Doctor of Physical Therapy

• Personalized treatment plans based on your goals

• Evidence informed rehabilitation

• Hands-on care combined with individualized exercise programming

• Focus on treating the underlying cause, not simply masking symptoms

• Convenient location serving Park Ridge and surrounding communities

Movement Is Medicine

At Get Up Physical Therapy, we believe movement is one of the most powerful tools for recovery.

That doesn't mean pushing through pain or ignoring symptoms. It means identifying the right movements, progressing them safely, and helping you regain confidence in your shoulder.

Our goal isn't simply to reduce pain.

It's to help you restore strength, improve function, and confidently return to work, exercise, sports, and the activities you enjoy.

Schedule Your Evaluation

Shoulder pain doesn't have to keep you from doing the things you enjoy.

If you're looking for one-on-one physical therapy in Park Ridge that focuses on identifying the root cause of your symptoms and helping you return to work, exercise, sports, and daily activities, we'd love to help.

Schedule your evaluation today and take the first step toward moving with confidence again.