Osteopathy For Shoulder Pain

Don’t suffer with shoulder pain, get back to living your life pain free with Osteopathic treatment in Didsbury.

Integrating Osteopathy and Chiropractic Techniques for Effective Relief and Management of Shoulder Pain.

Experiencing shoulder pain or stiffness? Don’t let it hold you back from your sport, gym sessions, or everyday life. Whether it’s from swimming, tennis, weight training, or simply daily activities, shoulder pain can affect anyone. Common causes include frozen shoulder, rotator cuff problems, impingements, and trapped nerves — all of which can be painful and frustrating.

At Holland Osteopathy in Didsbury, Manchester, we provide expert diagnosis and hands-on treatment to get you moving again — without long NHS waiting times.

An Osteopathic appointment can involve the following:

Detailed Assessment:

  • Thorough examination of your medical history.

  • Active and passive movement testing.

  • Specialised exams (neurological or muscle strength tests if needed)

Personalised Treatment Plan:

  • Expert Osteopath and Chiropractor manipulation techniques.

  • Targeted massage and acupuncture for affected areas and connecting structures.

Tailored Physio Rehab Plan:

  • Exercises to strengthen and stabilise your shoulder

  • Guidance on posture, movement, and load management

  • A phased plan to keep you pain-free long term

👉 Book your shoulder pain treatment in Manchester today and start your recovery with confidence.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can have many causes, here are some of the most common ones we see in clinic.

Rotator Cuff Injuries

These involve the group of four stabilising muscles around the shoulder. Strains, tears, or tendon issues here are common in swimmers and tennis players due to repetitive overhead movements.

Shoulder Impingement

Occurs when tendons or bursae become pinched during movement, often felt with pain lifting the arm overhead. Common in tennis serves and weight training. For more information see my blog on shoulder impingement here!

Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)

Characterised by pain and stiffness that gradually limit shoulder movement. More common in people aged 40+, but also seen post-injury.

Osteopath for shoulder pain

Labral Tears

The labrum is the cartilage “rim” around the shoulder joint. Tears here can cause pain, clicking, or instability — often seen in athletes who serve, throw, or lift.

Trapped Nerves

Nerve irritation in the shoulder or neck can cause pain, tingling, or weakness down the arm.

Arthritis & Age-Related Changes

As we get older, natural wear and tear in the shoulder joint can lead to stiffness, reduced movement, and pain — often linked to arthritis or degeneration of the joint surfaces.

Symptoms That Need Attention

  • Pain with and without movement. Often sharp pain with movement.

  • Night pain

  • Weakness or instability - especially after trauma.

  • Clicking/catching with pain.

  • Restricted or reduced movement

Shoulder Pain in Sports: Tennis, Swimming & Weightlifting

shoulder pain treatment manchester

Shoulder pain is especially common in sports that demand repetitive overhead movements or heavy loading. Each sport places unique stresses on the joint, making certain injuries more likely.

Tennis

Serving and overhead strokes place the shoulder in extreme ranges of external rotation, followed by rapid internal rotation at high speeds. This repetitive motion can strain the rotator cuff, stretch the joint capsule, and contribute to impingement or labral injuries.

Swimming

Freestyle, butterfly, and backstroke all involve continuous overhead arm movement, often with thousands of strokes in a single training session. This high volume can overload the rotator cuff and lead to shoulder impingement, sometimes called “swimmer’s shoulder.”

Weightlifting

Pressing exercises (bench press, overhead press) and heavy pulling movements place large compressive and shear forces through the shoulder joint. Muscle imbalances, poor scapular control, or inadequate technique can increase the risk of rotator cuff strain, tendinopathy, or impingement.

FAQs about Shoulder Pain

  • This is the million-dollar question! The truth is, recovery time varies — factors such as age, general health, the severity of your symptoms, and whether the issue developed suddenly or gradually all play a role.

    One of the biggest influences is whether you follow an appropriate rehab plan. The right exercises can make a big difference in speeding up recovery and preventing setbacks.

    At Holland Osteopathy, I’ll always aim to give you a clear diagnosis of what structure is causing your symptoms and why. Understanding the root cause helps us predict your likely recovery time and plan the best path forward.

  • Most shoulder problems can be diagnosed through a thorough case history and physical examination. Scans (such as MRI or ultrasound) are only recommended if symptoms aren’t improving, or if we suspect a more complex injury that needs further investigation. At Holland Osteopathy, I’ll let you know if a referral for imaging is appropriate.

  • Osteopathy can help reduce pain, restore mobility, and strengthen the rotator cuff through hands-on techniques, exercise rehab, and load management. The goal is not just symptom relief, but improving long-term shoulder function and preventing recurrence.

  • Osteopathy tends to take a whole-body approach, considering how posture, movement, and other joints may contribute to shoulder pain. Physiotherapy often focuses more specifically on structured exercise programmes. In practice, there’s a lot of crossover, and many patients benefit from the holistic and rehab-based style of osteopathy.
    Most of the exercises I will prescribe are used by both Physio and Osteopaths.

  • Light activity is often possible — and can even help recovery — as long as movements don’t aggravate your symptoms. However, pushing through sharp or worsening pain can make injuries worse. At Holland Osteopathy, I’ll assess your shoulder and guide you on what’s safe to continue (e.g. modified training, reduced load, or technique adjustments) and when rest or rehab should take priority. The aim is always to keep you as active as possible without risking further damage.

👉 Book Your Shoulder Pain Appointment in Manchester