Shoulder Pain Physical Therapy at Home
Shoulder pain can make it hard to reach a shelf, get dressed, wash your hair or sleep through the night. Physical therapy helps restore shoulder motion and strength so everyday tasks get easier, and we do it right in your home.
Common causes of shoulder pain we treat
- Rotator cuff strains and tendon pain
- Frozen shoulder (stiff, painful shoulder)
- Shoulder impingement
- Shoulder arthritis
- Stiffness after a fracture or fall
- Recovery after shoulder surgery
Is this for you?
- Reaching overhead or behind your back hurts
- Getting dressed or doing your hair is difficult
- Pain wakes you up when you lie on that side
- Your shoulder feels weak or stiff
- You've stopped using your arm as much as before
- You want to avoid or delay shoulder surgery
How physical therapy helps shoulder pain
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, which also makes it easy to strain. When it hurts, people naturally stop moving it, and that can lead to more stiffness and weakness. Physical therapy breaks that cycle. We restore motion gently, strengthen the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles, and improve posture so the joint moves the way it should. Many common shoulder problems improve with a well-planned exercise program.
What treatment may include
- Gentle range-of-motion exercises
- Rotator cuff and shoulder blade strengthening
- Hands-on manual therapy
- Posture training
- Practice with daily tasks like dressing and reaching
- Tips for sleeping more comfortably
What to expect
- Shoulder evaluation at home. We check your motion, strength and the movements that cause pain.
- A plan for your shoulder. Goals built around the tasks you want to do without pain.
- Exercises you can keep doing. A simple home program to keep your shoulder moving between visits and after therapy ends.
Frequently asked questions
Should I stop moving my shoulder if it hurts?
Resting a very painful shoulder for a short time can help, but avoiding movement for long usually makes stiffness worse. Your therapist will show you safe ways to keep it moving.
Can physical therapy help a frozen shoulder?
Yes. Frozen shoulder can take time to improve, and therapy helps restore motion and reduce stiffness along the way.
When should I see a doctor first?
See a doctor right away if you can't lift your arm after a fall or injury, if your shoulder looks deformed, or if shoulder or arm pain comes with chest pain or shortness of breath. Call 911 for chest pain.
Had shoulder surgery?
See our orthopedic surgery recovery page.
Medicare Part B accepted, plus Aetna Medicare, Independence Blue Cross and Keystone 65. We serve Northeast Philadelphia, Bucks County and Montgomery County.