Shoulder pain in Stittsville. Get your reach back.
The shoulder that aches reaching for a high shelf, wakes you when you roll onto it, or will not let you lift overhead. Assessment, hands-on treatment and a plan back to the garden, the golf course and the gym, from a physiotherapist and athletic therapist in the same building as our coaches.
Shoulders are complicated. A plan makes them simpler.
Most shoulder pain improves with the right mix of treatment and well-chosen exercise. An assessment works out which structures are involved and what to load, and what to leave alone for now.
- Pain reaching overheadShelves, hair, putting on a jacket, or pressing in the gym.
- Rotator cuff painAn ache on the outside of the upper arm, often worse with lifting.
- A stiff or frozen shoulderRange slowly disappearing, sometimes with no clear cause.
- Pain at nightHard to sleep on that side, or woken when you roll over.
- After a fall or a strainThe shoulder that has not felt right since.
- Sport and lifting shouldersGolf, paddling, racquet sports, swimming and the bench press.
When to see a doctor straight away.
- Chest pain, shortness of breath or sweating, especially with left shoulder or arm pain: call 911
- A fall or injury followed by an obvious deformity or being unable to lift the arm at all
- Fever, or a hot, red, swollen shoulder
- Numbness or weakness spreading down the arm
- Unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer
If any of these apply, call your doctor or go to emergency before booking with us.
A clear plan, then back to the things you do.
- AssessmentHistory, movement and strength testing, and a hands-on assessment. You leave knowing what is involved and what to do next.
- Treatment and a home planHands-on treatment, taping where it helps, and a short, specific exercise plan to restore range and strength.
- Back to overhead, with a coach if you want oneWhen you are ready, a coach progresses you back to pressing, pulling and carrying, with your therapist down the hall.
See appointment lengths and rates on the physiotherapy and athletic therapy pages.
General things that help most people with a sore shoulder.
- Keep it moving within comfortGentle, pain-free movement is usually better than keeping the arm completely still.
- Change the load, not everythingLighter, lower or fewer reps often lets you keep training while it settles.
- Get stiffness checked earlyA shoulder that is steadily losing range is worth assessing sooner rather than later.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for you. If you are worried about your symptoms, see your doctor or book an assessment.
Two clinicians, one building, one plan.
Resident physiotherapist. Much of her week is adults returning to movement after years away, after surgery, or after a flare-up that would not settle.
About physiotherapy →
Heads athletic therapy and also coaches strength, so the plan carries on past pain free and into real training.
About athletic therapy →Not sure which one to book? Book either. If it should be the other, we will simply move you.
Most therapy stops when the pain stops. Ours carries you back.
Your physiotherapist, athletic therapist and coaches work in the same building and talk to each other. When treatment ends, you do not get discharged into thin air. You get handed to a coach with a program that respects what your therapist found, so you go back to the golf course, the garden and the gym floor and stay there.
Assess and treat
A proper assessment, hands-on treatment and a plan you understand. No mystery, no endless open-ended appointments.
Rebuild with a coach
Strength, control and durability, coached one-on-one or in a small group, with your therapist twenty feet away if anything flares up.
Before you book.
Do I need an ultrasound or MRI first?
Usually not. Most shoulders are assessed with a history and a physical exam. If imaging or a doctor visit is needed, we will tell you and explain why.
Do I need a referral?
No. In Ontario you can book directly with a physiotherapist or an athletic therapist. Book online and pick a time.
Is it covered by my benefits?
Physiotherapy and athletic therapy are covered by many extended health plans. Coverage varies, so check your plan before your first visit.
How many appointments will I need?
It depends on what we find, and your clinician will tell you after the assessment. The goal is a clear plan with an end, not open-ended weekly visits.
Can I keep training?
Usually, with changes. Your clinician will tell you what to modify and what to keep, and if you train here, they talk to your coach directly.
Other things we help with.
Book a shoulder assessment online.
Real-time availability online, no referral needed. If you would rather talk to a person first, call us and we will find you a time.