Shoulder Pain Treatment

Can’t reach the top shelf without wincing? Dreading another night of waking up in pain every time you roll over? Has a recent injury left your shoulder stiff, unstable, or barely functional? Shoulder pain is one of the most common – and most disruptive – complaints we treat at Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab. Whether your pain came on suddenly or has been building for years, our physical therapists at our South Shreveport, North Shreveport, and South Bossier clinics are ready to help you find real, lasting relief without relying on pain medication or jumping straight to surgery.

Understanding Your Shoulder Pain

The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the human body – and that mobility comes with complexity. The ball-and-socket joint formed by the head of the humerus (upper arm bone) and the scapula (shoulder blade) is held together by a network of cartilage, tendons, muscles, and fluid filled sacs called bursae. Together, these structures make up the rotator cuff system. When any part of that system is disrupted – through injury, overuse, inflammation, or degeneration – pain and limited function follow. Depending on the cause, shoulder pain can range from a dull, persistent ache to sharp, debilitating pain that makes basic movement impossible.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

• Osteoarthritis – Gradual cartilage breakdown causes the bones of the shoulder joint to lose their protective cushioning, resulting in pain and stiffness with movement.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis – An autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to attack the membranes surrounding the shoulder joint, leading to chronic inflammation and pain.
• Tendonitis – Repetitive overhead activity – common in athletes, laborers, and certain professions – causes ongoing tendon inflammation that leads to painful impingement when raising the arm.
• Bursitis – Inflammation of the bursae, often triggered by friction from surrounding tendons, makes overhead motions particularly painful.
• Shoulder Dislocation – When the head of the humerus is forced out of the socket, the result is intense pain and instability. Once dislocated, the shoulder is more vulnerable to future dislocations without proper rehabilitation.
• Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis) – Prolonged immobility — following an injury, surgery, or illness — can cause the shoulder tissues to stiffen significantly, severely restricting range of motion.

How Physical Therapy Treats Shoulder Pain

Your treatment may include:

• Manual Therapy – Hands-on joint mobilization and soft tissue techniques to reduce pain, restore mobility, and improve shoulder mechanics
• Therapeutic Exercise – Targeted strengthening of the rotator cuff and surrounding musculature to stabilize the joint and prevent re-injury
• Functional Dry Needling – Used to release trigger points and reduce pain in the muscles contributing to shoulder dysfunction
• Range of Motion Therapy – Progressive stretching and mobility work to restore full, painfree movement — particularly effective for frozen shoulder
• Thermal and Modality Treatments – Heat, ice, and ultrasound therapy to reduce inflammation and promote tissue healing
• Ergonomic and Activity Modification – Identifying movement patterns, workplace habits, or training techniques that may be contributing to your pain and correcting them at the source

Don’t Wait on Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain rarely resolves on its own — and the longer it goes untreated, the harder it can be to address. The team at Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab is here to help, with locations in South Shreveport, North Shreveport, and South Bossier, LA serving patients throughout the Shreveport-Bossier community.

Contact us today to request your appointment and take the first step toward a pain-free shoulder.