Shoulder Pain Physical Therapy in Seattle

Get Back to Lifting, Climbing, Throwing, and Doing What You Enjoy

Shoulder pain can show up in a lot of different ways. Maybe it hurts when you press overhead, bench press, reach behind your back, sleep on that side, or simply put on a jacket.

And sometimes the frustrating part is that it doesn't seem to go away, even after you've rested it or tried a few shoulder exercises.

At MoveMend Rehab & Training, we help active people figure out what's contributing to their shoulder pain and what they can do about it.

Our goal isn't just to get your shoulder feeling better. We want to help you get back to using it with confidence, whether that means lifting weights, climbing, playing a sport, or getting through everyday life without constantly thinking about your shoulder.

How We Approach Shoulder Pain

Your shoulder evaluation looks at more than just where it hurts.

We'll look at things like:

Strength: How well can your shoulder and surrounding muscles produce and tolerate force?

Range of Motion: Are there movements that are limited, uncomfortable, or noticeably different from your other side?

Your Activities: What movements actually bother you, and what does your shoulder need to be able to do for your sport, training, work, or daily life?

Your Training History: Did something change recently with your workouts, volume, intensity, or activity?

From there, we'll build a plan around what we find and what you're trying to get back to.

Common Shoulder Problems We Work With

Shoulder pain isn't one specific diagnosis. Some of the more common problems we see include:

  • Rotator cuff pain and injuries

  • Shoulder impingement symptoms

  • Labral injuries

  • Biceps tendon pain

  • Shoulder instability

  • AC joint injuries

  • Frozen shoulder

  • Shoulder pain with bench press or overhead lifting

  • Climbing-related shoulder injuries

  • Return to training after shoulder surgery

  • General shoulder pain or stiffness

You don't necessarily need to know exactly what's wrong before coming in. Figuring that out is part of the evaluation.

Do I Need to Stop Exercising Because My Shoulder Hurts?

Not always.

One of the first things we'll help you figure out is what you can continue doing safely and what may need to be modified temporarily.

For many shoulder problems, completely avoiding the shoulder isn't the answer. Instead, we may adjust certain exercises or movements while gradually rebuilding strength and tolerance.

As things improve, rehab should start looking less like "shoulder rehab" and more like the activities you're trying to return to.

Shoulder Physical Therapy for Active People

MoveMend works with active adults and athletes throughout Seattle who want more than temporary symptom relief.

That might mean getting back to:

  • Strength training

  • Climbing

  • CrossFit or functional fitness

  • Pickleball and racquet sports

  • Swimming

  • Throwing sports

  • Skiing and snowboarding

  • Everyday exercise and an active lifestyle

We'll help you understand what's going on, what you can keep doing, and what needs to improve so you can get back to the things that matter to you.

Shoulder Physical Therapy in Seattle

MoveMend Rehab & Training is located in Seattle's Eastlake neighborhood, convenient to Capitol Hill, South Lake Union, Wallingford, Queen Anne, and the surrounding Seattle area.

If shoulder pain has been limiting your workouts, sport, or everyday activities, come in for an evaluation and let's figure out what your next step should be.

If you’re ready to get started, book a session below