Shoulder Rehabilitation: Heal the Root Cause, Not Just Pain

A proper shoulder assessment is key. This patient had pain during flexion and abduction. I performed a full assessment to find the root cause, which could be anything from AC joint degeneration to bursitis, before starting manual therapy.

The scapulothoracic joint plays a major role in shoulder health. Here, I am performing mobilizations on this pseudo-joint, followed by using a Mulligan belt to increase space in the glenohumeral joint for a patient with a gym-related shoulder injury.

For frozen shoulder patients, progressing to overhead exercises is a big milestone. Here, I am using a TheraBand on a ladder wall to assist the patient's movement upwards while also engaging her scapular retractors. We modify exercises to fit each patient's needs.

Do you have pain in the front of your shoulder? The cause might be in the back. I explain the anatomy of the shoulder complex and why a physiotherapist works on the entire system, including the scapula and related joints, not just the area of pain.

A prolonged sitting job can cause rounded shoulders, which leads to tight pec muscles and weak back muscles. This imbalance was the cause of this patient's shoulder pain. I am assessing his restricted internal and external rotation to confirm the diagnosis.

This patient came with shoulder pain from a gym workout. After assessment, I found tightness in his teres major and minor muscles. Here, I am performing manual release on his back, followed by cupping, to prepare him for corrective exercises.

This is the strain-counterstrain technique, taught by my professor Dr. AMR Suresh. It is a gentle but highly effective manual therapy method for treating supraspinatus tendinitis and improving the shoulder's abduction range.

I don't use chiropractic adjustments for peripheral joints like the shoulder. Instead, I prefer mobilization techniques like these inferior glides. You can even hear a "pop" sound, which shows that mobilization is essentially a graded form of adjustment.

This patient's shoulder movement was stuck at 90 degrees. After an aggressive manual therapy session, his range improved significantly, though he felt tired. Post-treatment fatigue and soreness are normal as we wake up dormant muscles.