Shoulder Pain Treatment in Calgary — Regain Comfort and Function
- Colin Bouma, PT, FCAMPT
- Nov 9
- 3 min read
From lifting groceries to reaching overhead or sleeping on your side, shoulder pain can disrupt
your daily life. Whether caused by injury, overuse, or poor posture, effective physiotherapy can
get you back to moving pain-free.
At our MacLeod Trail physiotherapy clinic in Calgary, we help clients recover from shoulder
injuries and improve their upper body function with evidence-based, friendly care.
Common Causes of Shoulder Pain
1. Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy or Tears
Overuse or strain of the rotator cuff tendons often leads to pain with lifting and reaching. This is
common in both active individuals and those with poor shoulder mechanics (Lewis, 2009).
Recent research shows repetitive overhead use, aging, and poor scapular control are key risk
factors (Leong et al., 2019).
2. Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
Inflamed tendons and bursa can get pinched under the acromion during movement, especially
when posture and muscle balance are off (Michener et al., 2003).
Evidence-based rehab—particularly strengthening and manual therapy—has been shown to
reduce impingement-related symptoms (Michener et al., 2004).
3. Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
This condition involves a gradual loss of motion and increasing pain, often following injury or
prolonged inactivity. The capsule around the shoulder tightens and thickens (Wong et al., 2017).
Its exact cause is still debated, but early mobility, education, and progressive rehab remain
critical (Le et al., 2017).
4. AC Joint Injuries
Common in contact sports or falls, these involve ligament sprains or separation. The AC joint is
especially vulnerable to direct trauma and overloading from pressing movements.
5. Labral Tears or Instability
The labrum helps stabilize the shoulder joint. Tears, often seen in overhead athletes or following
dislocation, can cause pain, clicking, or instability during motion.
6. Referred Neck Pain
Cervical spine dysfunction can refer pain to the shoulder region—especially if nerve roots are
irritated or posture is poor.
Symptoms You May Experience
Pain with reaching or lifting
Weakness or fatigue in the shoulder
Clicking or popping sounds
Pain at night or when lying on your side
Limited range of motion
How Calgary Physiotherapy Helps Shoulder Pain
1. Detailed Orthopedic Assessment
We assess:
Strength of rotator cuff and scapular muscles
Joint mobility and posture
Functional movement like lifting or pushing
2. Manual Therapy
Techniques to improve joint mobility, reduce muscle tension, and restore scapular rhythm.
3. Targeted Strengthening
We prescribe exercises for:
Rotator cuff endurance
Scapular stabilization
Functional pushing/pulling
Studies show these components are critical for reducing pain and improving function in
shoulder impingement and tendinopathy cases (Michener et al., 2004).
4. Postural Correction
Retraining upper body posture reduces impingement and mechanical stress.
5. Home Exercise Program
Your rehab doesn’t stop at the clinic—we build personalized, trackable home routines.
6. Education & Load Management
We guide you on how to stay active while respecting healing timelines.
When to See a Physiotherapist
Shoulder pain that persists beyond a few days, limits your motion, or disrupts sleep should be
assessed. Early treatment leads to faster, more complete recovery.
Why Choose Our Calgary Clinic for Shoulder Rehab?
Located at 8989 MacLeod Trail SW, we proudly serve patients from Haysboro, Fairview,
Kingsland, and Acadia. Our expert physiotherapists combine hands-on care, rehab science, and
real-world experience to help you feel better.
Book a Shoulder Assessment Today
Don’t let shoulder pain limit your life. Let our Calgary team help you lift, reach, and rest pain-free
Bibliography
Le, H. V., Lee, S. J., Nazarian, A., & Rodriguez, E. K. (2017). Adhesive capsulitis of the
shoulder: Review of pathophysiology and current clinical treatments. Shoulder & Elbow,
9(2), 75–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/1758573216678131
Leong, H. T., Tsui, S., & Ng, G. Y. (2019). A review of risk factors for rotator cuff
pathology. Hong Kong Physiotherapy Journal, 39(2), 77–84.
Lewis, J. S. (2009). Rotator cuff tendinopathy: A model for the continuum of pathology
and related management. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 43(4), 236–241.
Michener, L. A., McClure, P. W., & Karduna, A. R. (2003). Anatomical and
biomechanical mechanisms of subacromial impingement syndrome. Clinical
Biomechanics, 18(5), 369–379. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0268-0033(03)00047-0
Michener, L. A., Walsworth, M. K., & Burnet, E. N. (2004). Effectiveness of
rehabilitation for patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: A systematic review.
Journal of Hand Therapy, 17(2), 152–164. https://doi.org/10.1197/j.jht.2004.02.004
Wong, C. K., Levine, W. N., & Deo, K. (2017). Management of the stiff shoulder: A
comparison of rehabilitation methods. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 26(10),
1700–1710. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2017.03.018
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