Tennis elbow
Outside-elbow pain that makes gripping or lifting difficult.
Shoulder pain making you think twice before you reach, lift or sleep?
Get back to training, work and sleeping comfortably without protecting your shoulder.
The ache that wakes you when you roll onto that side. The gym movements you have quietly removed. The overhead reach, jacket, bra strap or work task that has become a calculation. You rest it, stretch it, massage it or avoid the movements that set it off — but the moment you try to use your shoulder normally, it reminds you it is still there.
Book a shoulder pain assessment45–60 minute first appointment · Brunswick · Fitzroy North · Thornbury
40,000+patients seen by Premier
PhDDr Sanam’s doctorate in tendon problems
AxITstrength and capacity testing
3 clinicsBrunswick · Fitzroy North · Thornbury
Not sure whether this is the right diagnosis or what treatment you need? Start with Premier’s Tendon Clinic. We will assess the problem, begin appropriate treatment on your first visit and give you a clear plan for what happens next.
Shoulder pain can make a normal day feel strangely limited.
You change how you dress, carry things, sleep, train and reach. You might stop lifting overhead, avoid your favourite class or put up with the ache because you can still “mostly manage.”
But if you are having to work around it, the real question is not just how to settle it today. It is what is driving it, what your shoulder can handle now, and how to get back to using it with confidence.
Rest can make it quieter. It does not always make your shoulder ready.
Doing less can give irritated tissue a break. But if you never rebuild the capacity needed for reaching, lifting, sport or sleep, the same movements can keep bringing the problem back.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY TRIED THE USUAL ADVICE
More stretching and avoiding aggravating movements are not necessarily the answer.
“I have tried physio before.”
A shoulder plan needs to reflect your actual limitation — whether that is sleep, work, the gym, climbing, swimming, tennis or lifting your child.
“It settles, then returns.”
That is a reason to work out what is being missed, not to keep cycling through the same short-term fixes.
“I am worried I will make it worse.”
You need a clear path for what to keep doing, what to adjust, and how to reintroduce the movements you have been avoiding.
YOUR 45–60 MINUTE SHOULDER ASSESSMENT
Leave with more than a vague diagnosis and a sheet of exercises.
We start with what you want back, then assess the shoulder and the surrounding movement system. We consider strength, movement, symptoms, your history and the real-life demand you are trying to return to.
You leave knowing what we think is most likely involved, what treatment may add value now, and the next practical steps toward your goal.
Book a shoulder pain assessmentSHOULDER PAIN IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
Similar pain can come from different problems. That changes the plan.
Rotator cuff-related shoulder pain
Pain with reaching, lifting or overhead activity may involve the rotator cuff and how the shoulder is currently tolerating load.
Pain that disrupts sleep
Shoulder pain at night or when lying on one side deserves a proper look at your symptoms, movement and capacity — not endless trial and error.
Pain that returns with the gym or sport
If the shoulder settles when you stop, then returns as training resumes, your plan needs to bridge the gap back to your actual sport or session.
WHERE SHOCKWAVE FITS
When it is appropriate, it can be one useful part of a bigger plan.
Shockwave Therapy is not a substitute for working out what is causing your pain or rebuilding strength and tolerance. For some persistent tendon-related shoulder presentations, it may be a useful option alongside the broader plan.
We use the tools that fit your assessment — not the same treatment for every painful shoulder.
BACK TO THE THINGS YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO DO
The end point is not “my shoulder is a bit better.”
It is sleeping without choosing one side all night. Reaching the top shelf without bracing. Returning to lifting, swimming, tennis, work or the gym without a constant calculation about what your shoulder might do tomorrow.
Your goal is not just less pain. It is being able to use your shoulder normally and trust it again.
WHEN TO TAKE ACTION
Book before shoulder pain narrows your life even further.
Your first appointment is designed to give you a clear answer and begin appropriate treatment on the day. We start with what you want back, assess the painful area and the wider picture, explain what we think is most likely involved, then select the treatment that makes the most sense for you.
Depending on what your physiotherapist finds, treatment may include hands-on care, dry needling, Shockwave Therapy, exercise or another appropriate physiotherapy approach. You leave knowing what was started, what to do next and how the plan will build towards your goal.
Book a shoulder pain assessmentShoulder pain: common questions
Why does my shoulder hurt when I sleep?
Sleeping on a painful shoulder can aggravate symptoms, but night pain can have different drivers. An assessment helps clarify the pattern and the next appropriate steps.
Can I still go to the gym with shoulder pain?
It depends on your presentation and goals. You should not have to guess between stopping all activity and blindly pushing through. We can guide what to modify and how to build back.
Is my shoulder pain a rotator cuff problem?
Rotator cuff-related pain is one possible explanation, especially when reaching or lifting is painful, but shoulder symptoms can have several contributors. A proper assessment is needed to work out what is most likely involved.
Can Shockwave Therapy help shoulder pain?
It may be appropriate for some persistent tendon-related shoulder presentations. It is considered alongside your assessment findings and a plan to restore capacity.
Do I need a scan for shoulder pain?
Not every painful shoulder needs imaging. Your clinician will explain when a scan is likely to add useful information.
What should I bring to my appointment?
Bring any relevant scans or previous treatment information, plus a clear sense of the activities and movements you most want to get back to.
Will I receive treatment at my first appointment?
Yes. Your physiotherapist will assess the problem first and begin appropriate treatment during your 45–60 minute appointment. The treatment provided will depend on what they find.
RELATED PAIN PATTERNS
Not sure which page best fits?
Start with the pain that is changing what you can do. These pages may also be useful:
Golfer’s elbow
Inside-elbow pain with gripping, lifting or repetitive work.
Knee tendon pain
Knee pain that affects squatting, jumping, stairs or training.
If you are not sure which condition best fits, start with the Premier Tendon Clinic. For some stubborn tendon presentations, Shockwave Therapy may be one useful part of a broader plan.
Get a clear shoulder pain assessment and a plan for the activity you want back.
Brunswick · Fitzroy North · Thornbury
Book a shoulder pain assessment