Located in the Adirondack Club

800 Chestnut St 

Franklin MA 02038

508-528-5723

​Sports & Wellness Physical Therapy 

​Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can be a result of injury or disease of the shoulder joint. Injury can affect any of the ligaments, bursae, or tendons surrounding the shoulder joint. Injury can also affect the ligaments, cartilage, menisci (plural for meniscus), and bones of the joint. The design of the shoulder joint is such that it sacrifices stability for mobility. As an extremely mobile joint that plays a central role in the action of a major extremity, the shoulder is at risk for injury. 

Common injuries of the shoulder can lead to inflammation of the bursae (bursitis) or tendons (tendonitis or tendinitis) and result in a torn rotator cuff with dysfunction, impingement, as well as instability and frozen shoulder. Labral tears can be from torn cartilage. Fracture of the bones of the shoulder can cause intense shoulder pain.


Pain can also occur in the shoulder from diseases or conditions that involve the shoulder joint (including arthritis such as osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis with bone spurs), the soft tissues and bones surrounding the shoulder, or the nerves that supply sensation to the shoulder area. Occasionally, shoulder pain can be a result of a heart attack.. please consult your doctor if you have any concern of this.  

Individuals with shoulder pain may experience:

Restriction in shoulder motion with associated weakness in movement patterns, such as reaching overhead, behind the body, or out to the side.
Pain in the shoulder when moving the arm overhead, out to the side, and beside the body.
Pain and discomfort when attempting to sleep on the involved side.
Pain with throwing motions and other dynamic movement patterns. 

How Physical Therapy Can Help

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Reduce Pain and Swelling
Improve Motion
Improve Flexibility
Improve Posture
Improve Strength
Improve Endurance
Learn a Home Program
Return to Activities
Speed Recovery Time