Shoulder physiotherapy in East Melbourne

Shoulder physiotherapy

Assessment and exercise-based care for shoulder pain, stiffness and weakness, in the same rooms as the orthopaedic surgeon.

Woman reaching up to a kitchen shelf and holding her sore shoulder

Book an appointment

Call (03) 9928 6161

How physiotherapy helps a painful shoulder

Most shoulder problems improve with a well-planned exercise program. Physiotherapy aims to settle pain, restore movement and rebuild the strength and control your shoulder needs for work, sport and a good night’s sleep.

Your physiotherapist works alongside Professor Phong Tran, orthopaedic surgeon. If your shoulder is not improving as expected, imaging or a surgical opinion can be arranged without starting again somewhere else.

Your first visit

A detailed history of your pain, your work and your sport
Examination of shoulder movement, strength and shoulder blade control
A review of any X-rays, ultrasound or MRI scans you bring
A clear explanation of the problem and an exercise program to start at home

Physiotherapist and a smiling patient in a treatment room

Shoulder conditions we treat

Choose a condition to read about its causes, treatment and recovery.

Rotator cuff tear

Pain and weakness when lifting the arm or lying on the shoulder at night.

Physiotherapy for rotator cuff pain

Man reaching up to a high garage shelf while holding his sore shoulder

Shoulder impingement and bursitis

Pain when reaching overhead, often from an irritated bursa or tendon.

Frozen shoulder

A shoulder that becomes painful and then very stiff, usually over many months.

Physiotherapy for frozen shoulder

Young footballer sitting on the grass holding his injured arm against his body

Shoulder dislocation and instability

The shoulder slipping out of joint, or feeling as if it might.

Physiotherapy for dislocation and instability

Illustration of a calcium deposit in the supraspinatus tendon beneath the subacromial bursa

Calcific tendinitis

Sudden, severe pain from a calcium deposit in a rotator cuff tendon.

Man in a kitchen reaching up to a cupboard while holding his sore shoulder

Shoulder osteoarthritis

Aching, stiffness and grinding from wear of the joint surfaces.

Other shoulder conditions

Biceps tendinitis, pain at the front of the shoulder with lifting and pulling
AC joint arthritis, pain on top of the shoulder when reaching across the body
SLAP lesion, a tear of the labrum with clicking, catching or deep pain
Scapular dyskinesis, altered shoulder blade movement that can add to shoulder pain

Exercises your program may start with

Every program is tailored to you. Early shoulder rehabilitation often begins with gentle movement and shoulder blade control before strengthening. Check with your physiotherapist before starting any of these.

Illustration of a man leaning on a table with his sore arm hanging down and swinging in small circles

Pendulum swings

Letting the arm hang and swing in small circles eases pain and keeps the joint moving.

Illustration of a man seen from behind gently squeezing his shoulder blades back and down

Shoulder blade squeeze

Trains the muscles that position the shoulder blade, which supports the whole arm.

Standing pulling a resistance band back with both elbows close to the sides

Resistance band row

Builds strength around the back of the shoulder once movement is more comfortable.

When a surgical opinion helps

Surgery is considered only when it is likely to give a better result than continuing with physiotherapy. Examples include a large rotator cuff tear in an active person, repeated dislocations, or advanced arthritis that disturbs sleep and daily life.

Because the physiotherapists and Professor Tran work together, your progress and imaging are shared, and physiotherapy continues before and after any operation.