How to Use the Shoulder Pain Rehab Guide
Shoulder pain treatment depends heavily on the underlying cause. By selecting when pain occurs, how long it has lasted, and your relevant history, this guide helps identify the likely cause and outlines a two-phase rehabilitation approach.
The four most common causes — rotator cuff injury, shoulder impingement, frozen shoulder, and calcific tendinitis — each have distinct characteristics. In the acute phase, the goal is reducing pain and inflammation. In the recovery phase, progressive stretching and strengthening restore full function.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use ice for the first 48 hours of acute pain (10–20 min, 3–4 times/day). For chronic or subacute pain, heat helps increase blood flow and relax muscles before stretching (15–20 min).
Yes, but avoid overhead pressing and lateral raises above shoulder height during the acute phase. Focus on scapular stabilization, rotator cuff strengthening (at pain-free angles), and thoracic mobility.
Most frozen shoulder cases resolve within 1–3 years. Physical therapy, stretching, corticosteroid injections, and in some cases manipulation under anesthesia can significantly speed recovery.