Shoulder Physiotherapy
At Fortius Allied Health, our physiotherapists assess and treat shoulder pain and shoulder injuries, including dislocation and instability (such as GAGL, Bankart and HAGL lesions), rotator cuff problems, frozen shoulder and rehabilitation before and after shoulder surgery. We see patients at our Caloundra, Noosaville, Birtinya and Gympie clinics, and no GP referral is needed to book.
Shoulder Physiotherapists on the Sunshine Coast and in Gympie
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body. That range of movement relies on the rotator cuff muscles, the ligaments and labrum around the socket, and the shoulder blade all working together. When one part is injured or overloaded, the whole shoulder can feel painful, weak or unstable.
Common reasons people come to see us include:
- Pain when lifting the arm overhead or reaching behind the back
- A shoulder that has dislocated or partly dislocated (subluxed), or feels like it might
- Night pain, or pain lying on the shoulder
- Stiffness that has slowly made everyday tasks harder
- Weakness after a fall, tackle, wipe-out or lifting injury
- Rehabilitation before or after shoulder surgery
Your physiotherapist will work out which structures are involved, explain what is going on in plain language and build a program around your work, sport and goals. If you need imaging or a medical opinion, we will tell you and work with your GP or surgeon.
Shoulder Conditions We Commonly See
When the ball of the shoulder comes out of the socket, it can damage the structures that hold it in place. Common injury patterns include:
- Bankart lesion: the labrum and ligaments tear away from the front of the socket. This is the most common pattern after a dislocation.
- GAGL lesion (glenoid avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament): the inferior glenohumeral ligament pulls away from the socket while the labrum stays intact.
- HAGL lesion (humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament): the same ligament tears away from the ball (humerus) side instead.
These injuries are confirmed with imaging, usually an MRI or MR arthrogram. Physiotherapy rebuilds strength and control around the shoulder, either as the main treatment or as rehabilitation before and after a stabilisation operation.
- Pain on the outside of the upper arm, often when lifting or reaching
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (an overloaded, irritable tendon), which is commonly managed with a graded strengthening program
- Partial and full thickness tears, from a single injury or gradual wear
- Rehabilitation after a rotator cuff repair. Read Rotator Cuff Repair Rehabilitation: What the First Six Months Look Like
Frozen shoulder causes painful, gradually worsening stiffness, especially when turning the arm outwards. It usually improves with time, but recovery can be slow. Physiotherapy aims to manage pain, keep the shoulder moving, and work alongside your GP or surgeon on options such as injections or hydrodilatation. Read Frozen Shoulder: How Long Does It Last, and What Actually Helps?
- Shoulder stabilisation, for example Bankart repair, GAGL repair or the Latarjet procedure
- Rotator cuff repair
- Shoulder replacement, including reverse shoulder replacement
- Acromioclavicular (AC) joint and collarbone fixation
We follow your surgeon's protocol and keep them updated on your progress. See our pre and post operative physiotherapy page.
- Swimming, surfing and paddling overload
- Throwing and racquet sports
- Tackles and contact injuries in rugby league, rugby union and AFL
- Gym and weightlifting related shoulder pain
Rehabilitation finishes with return to sport testing, so you go back with the strength and control your sport demands.
- AC joint sprains and separations, usually from a fall onto the point of the shoulder
- Recovery after a broken collarbone or upper arm, once your doctor has cleared you to start
- Shoulder pain that may be coming from the neck. Our neck pain physiotherapy page explains how this is assessed
- Arthritis of the shoulder joint
Your Shoulder Physiotherapy Assessment
At your first appointment at Fortius Allied Health in Caloundra, Noosaville, Birtinya or Gympie, your physiotherapist will typically:
- Ask how the problem started, including any dislocation, fall or change in training or work
- Find out what eases and aggravates your symptoms, and how they affect sleep, work and sport
- Review any scans, surgical reports or your surgeon’s rehabilitation protocol
- Measure your shoulder range of movement and shoulder blade control
- Test rotator cuff and shoulder strength
- Use specific tests for instability, rotator cuff and labral involvement
- Check your neck, and screen for any signs that need medical review
You will leave with a clear explanation of the likely diagnosis, a plan, and exercises to start straight away.
Shoulder Treatment and Management Options
Your plan depends on your diagnosis, your goals and whether surgery is involved. It may include one or more of the following:
Education and load management
- What your diagnosis means and a realistic timeframe
- Which activities to modify for now, and which are safe to keep doing
- Sleeping positions and strategies for managing flare-ups
Exercise rehabilitation
- Progressive rotator cuff and shoulder blade strengthening
- Range of movement work for stiff shoulders
- Control and proprioception drills for unstable shoulders
- Sport and work specific training, finishing with return to sport testing
Hands-on and supporting treatment
- Soft tissue techniques and joint mobilisation where they help you move
- Taping or a sling or brace in the early phase after some injuries
- Dry needling, if it suits you and you consent
Exercise physiology
Once your physiotherapist clears you, our exercise physiologists can continue your strength program in the gym, which suits the longer rehabilitation that follows shoulder surgery.
When to See a Physiotherapist for Your Shoulder
Consider booking an appointment if:
- Your shoulder has dislocated, partly dislocated or feels unstable
- Pain has lasted more than a couple of weeks, or keeps coming back
- You cannot lift your arm, sleep on that side or reach behind you
- Shoulder pain is stopping you from working, training or playing sport
- You have shoulder surgery coming up, or have recently had it
Seek urgent medical care (your GP, or the emergency department) if your shoulder is still out of place, if you have numbness, tingling or a colour change in your arm or hand, if you cannot move your arm after a significant fall or accident, or if shoulder pain comes with chest pain, shortness of breath, fever or feeling generally unwell.
Shoulder Physiotherapy: Frequently Asked Questions
No. You can book directly with Fortius Allied Health for private physiotherapy without a GP referral. If your care is funded through WorkCover QLD, CTP or a Medicare chronic condition management plan, the rules for that scheme apply. Read Do You Need a GP Referral to See a Physiotherapist in Queensland?
GAGL stands for glenoid avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament. The inferior glenohumeral ligament, one of the main ligaments that stops the shoulder dislocating forwards, tears away from the socket (the glenoid) while the labrum stays intact. It usually follows a shoulder dislocation and is diagnosed with an MRI or MR arthrogram. Depending on your shoulder and your goals, treatment is rehabilitation alone, or a surgical repair followed by rehabilitation.
Many people are treated with rehabilitation alone, particularly after a first dislocation without significant bone injury. The risk of the shoulder dislocating again is higher in younger people who play contact or overhead sport, and some are advised to consider surgery. Your physiotherapist will explain your options and refer you to your GP or a surgeon when a surgical opinion is needed.
It depends on the problem. A mild rotator cuff tendinopathy may improve within weeks. Rehabilitation after shoulder surgery usually runs for several months, and after a rotator cuff repair it is commonly six to twelve months before heavy or overhead work. Frozen shoulder can take longer. Your physiotherapist will give you a timeframe after your assessment and review it as you progress.
Yes. If your private health extras cover includes physiotherapy, you can claim a rebate at all four Fortius Allied Health clinics. How much you get back depends on your fund and your level of cover, so check with your fund if you are unsure.
All four clinics treat shoulder problems. Our Caloundra and Noosaville clinics often have more appointment availability, and Birtinya is open until 6:30pm on weekdays. Clinic addresses and phone numbers are listed below.
Book a Shoulder Physiotherapy Appointment
Book online at any of our four clinics, or phone the clinic directly:
- Caloundra: 41 Bombala Terrace, Caloundra QLD 4551. 07 5293 6000. Monday to Friday, 7am to 5:30pm.
- Noosaville: Noosa Civic Medihub, Level 1, 26 Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville QLD 4566. 07 5440 7700. Monday to Friday, 7am to 5:30pm.
- Birtinya: Vitality Village, Level 4, 5 Discovery Court, Birtinya QLD 4575. 07 5413 5202. Monday to Friday, 7am to 6:30pm.
- Gympie: 3 Queen Street, Gympie QLD 4570. 07 5440 7700.
Book online now. No GP referral is needed for private physiotherapy, and we also see WorkCover QLD, CTP and NDIS (self managed and plan managed) clients.
Are you having a joint replacement?
Joint School is a pre-surgical education program that is delivered by one of our Physiotherapists in conjunction with a Nurse Practitioner from the Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group. You’ll receive expert information, exercises and support to prepare your body for surgery and recovery’s
