Shoulder pain can be frustrating, debilitating, and disruptive to your daily routine—whether you’re trying to sleep, reach for something on a shelf, or get through a workout. At Stride Physical Therapy, our expert physical therapists specialize in identifying and treating the root causes of shoulder pain to help you return to a pain-free, active lifestyle.

There are many possible reasons why your shoulder might hurt. Understanding the underlying cause of your shoulder pain is the first step toward developing an effective, personalized treatment plan.

• Rotator cuff injuries – The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint. Injuries can occur from overuse, trauma, or repetitive movements.Symptoms often include pain, weakness, and limited range of motion, especially during overhead activities or tasks like dressing and lifting.
• Tendinopathy: Tendinopathy refers to any condition affecting the shoulder tendons. These include:

• Tendonitis:Inflammation due to overuse or strain
• Tendinosis:Degeneration from chronic overuse
• Degenerative tearing:Gradual breakdown and tearing of the tendon
• Tenosynovitis:Inflammation of the tendon sheath
• Tendon rupture:A complete tear of the tendon

At Stride PT, we use a holistic, integrative approach to treat all tendon-related conditions with evidence-based physical therapy techniques.

• Shoulder instability:This occurs when the head of the upper arm bone moves partially or completely out of the shoulder socket. Often caused by ligament or labral injury, shoulder instability can lead to recurrent dislocations, weakness, and discomfort with motion.
• Labral tears: A labral tear affects the ring of cartilage around the shoulder socket, which can compromise joint stability. Symptoms include pain, catching or locking sensations, and difficulty with shoulder movements or sleeping on the affected side.
• Bursitis – Bursitis involves inflammation of the bursa—a fluid-filled sac that cushions the joint. It often results from repetitive motion or pressure and causes pain, swelling, and difficulty with overhead movements or lying on the affected shoulder.
• Arthritis –Arthritis in the shoulder can be a painful and debilitating condition that affects your daily life. The two most frequent kinds of arthritis that affect the shoulder are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Both result in the deterioration of the cartilage in the shoulder joint, which can make daily tasks more challenging as the degeneration becomes more severe.
• OsteoarthritisThis “wear and tear” arthritis leads to cartilage breakdown and is often linked to aging, injury, or genetics.
• Rheumatoid arthritis this autoimmune condition is when the body attacks the shoulder joint, leading to pain and chronic inflammation.
• Shoulder impingement syndrome – This occurs when shoulder tendons or the bursa become pinched between bones, often during overhead activities. It causes pain, weakness, and reduced mobility, especially when lifting or reaching.
• Frozen shoulder – Frozen shoulder is marked by stiffness, pain, and limited motion—often developing gradually without a clear cause. It can severely restrict all movements in the shoulder joint and affect your quality of life.