Assessment
A full hour on your history and how your body actually moves. You leave with a working diagnosis you understand and a clear plan you can actually follow.
Concern
Shoulder Pain Treatment in London
Rotator-cuff problems, frozen shoulder, and impingement-pattern pain respond well to graded loading and targeted manual therapy. Most cases resolve without surgery when rehab is started early, but the longer a stiff or painful shoulder is left, the more range it loses and the harder it is to win back. We help you start sooner, across six central London clinics.
Overview
Understanding shoulder pain
Shoulder pain is the third most common musculoskeletal complaint in UK primary care, and in most people over 40 the source is the rotator cuff: the four small muscles that stabilise the joint.
Current evidence supports progressive loading rehabilitation as the primary treatment for rotator-cuff tendinopathy and most non-traumatic shoulder pain. For many presentations the outcomes match surgery, with far less risk and a faster return to function. Frozen shoulder follows its own resolution pattern but responds well to physiotherapy throughout.
We assess which structure is driving your pain, then load it gradually until the shoulder handles your daily life and training again. Where a tendon is stubborn, such as calcific rotator-cuff pain, shockwave therapy can be added alongside the rehabilitation, and soft-tissue work can ease the surrounding tension while you rebuild.
Excellent
From 4 five-star Google reviews
Source: Google
I had a fantastic experience working with Katrina as my physiotherapist. From the start, she was incredibly friendly and genuinely listened to my concerns. She adapted my rehab plan specifically to suit my individual needs and time frame, as I was preparing for a move and had a clear goal to be back playing football. Katrina not only helped me reach that goal right on time, but she also used a variety of techniques, including dry needling and massage, to relieve tightness in the surrounding muscles and support my overall recovery. Her attention to detail, encouragement, and tailored approach made a real difference in my progress. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a physio!
Katrina is outstanding. After struggling with a stubborn Achilles injury, she not only got me pain-free but back to running and sport. Her expertise in acupuncture, massage, and tailored rehab planning is second to none. On top of that, she brings great energy and conversation that make each session genuinely enjoyable. If you need a physio who combines real skill with a personal touch, Katrina is the one to see.
Great experience with Katrina. She helped me with a sprained ankle with a very doable and effective treatment plan. The exercises were not overcomplicated and easy to incorporate into my day to day life which meant that I actually did them and was able to recover within 5 weeks in time to do a tough mudder. Really easy to chat to! Would recommend.
Katrina was great with me! I had a hip injury and expected it to take ages to fix but with the exercises she gave me to do and acupuncture, it all went away quite quickly. I now have exercises I can do regularly in the future and knowledge on how to prevent. Great experience!
Physiotherapy for shoulder pain can help to:
Start early, before range slips away
The longer a stiff or painful shoulder is left, the more movement it loses and the harder that range is to win back. Getting assessed sooner usually means a shorter, smoother recovery.
Rebuild the rotator cuff that stabilises the joint
The rotator cuff is the source of most shoulder pain over 40. Progressive loading rehabilitation restores its strength and control, which is what settles the pain and keeps it settled.
Avoid surgery where the evidence supports it
For most non-traumatic shoulder pain, structured rehabilitation produces outcomes comparable to surgery, with far less risk and a faster return to function. We guide you toward the least invasive route that works.
Work through a frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder follows its own pattern but responds well to physiotherapy at every stage. We help you keep as much movement and function as possible while it resolves, then speed the return once it eases.
Get back overhead and back to training
Whether the goal is swimming, the gym or reaching a shelf without wincing, we load the shoulder back to the demands of your week so the fix holds.
Why it happens
What causes shoulder pain?
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Irritated rotator cuff tendons, usually from lots of overhead work or a jump in training
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Tendons getting pinched in the narrow space under the point of the shoulder
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Frozen shoulder, where the joint gradually stiffens and aches. It often starts for no clear reason, usually between 40 and 60
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A sprain or wear in the small joint on top of the shoulder, where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade
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Posture and shoulder blade control that make any of the above worse
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Acute trauma: falls, sports collisions, dislocations
What happens at your first appointment
We work out what is really holding you back, then agree the plan with you before you leave.
Your first appointment runs a full 60 minutes: a detailed history, then a thorough examination of how you move, your strength, and the affected area. We explain what we find in plain English and agree a working diagnosis with you.
Treatment starts the same day, and you leave with the first exercises of a plan built around your goal.
Move well, move freely. That has been the idea since 1997. We settle the symptoms first, then rebuild the strength that stops them coming back, so you finish stronger than when you started.
- One clinical team across six central London clinics, from Soho to Canary Wharf, with same-week appointments.
- Treating central London since 1997: 28 years and roughly 160,000 patients.
- Recognised by seven major UK insurers, including Bupa, AXA and Vitality, with self-pay welcome.
Physiotherapy fees and insurance in London
You can book online directly, with no GP referral needed and same-week appointments across all six clinics. If you are using private health insurance, check your policy first: some insurers ask for a GP referral before your first session.
- Initial assessment: a full 60 minutes covering your history, examination and a working diagnosis
- Follow-up treatment: 45 minutes, with your plan progressed at each visit
- Extended 60-minute treatments for complex or multi-area problems
- Recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, Aviva, Cigna, Nuffield Health and WPA
Your journey
with Soho Physiotherapy
Everything is built around you. Whether the goal is a marathon or a comfortable commute, we find what is driving the problem, treat it, and build the strength that keeps the fix in place. Our aim is to get you better and give you the tools to stay better for the long term.
Treatment
Hands-on care to settle symptoms and restore movement: joint mobilisation, soft-tissue work and dry needling where they genuinely help, in line with national guidance.
Rebuild
Progressive exercise that returns the strength, control and load tolerance your body needs for work, sport and everything in between. This is the part that makes recovery last.
Perform
A short home programme, sensible loads, and the habits that keep problems rare. Then we discharge you: we don't sell sessions you don't need.
What we treat across our six London clinics
- Musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy
- Manual therapy and progressive exercise rehabilitation
- Dry needling and Western medical acupuncture
- Sports massage and soft-tissue therapy
- Shockwave therapy for stubborn tendon problems
- Post-operative rehabilitation
- Women's and pelvic health physiotherapy
- Workplace and desk setup assessments
- Running and gait analysis
Treatment approach
How do we treat shoulder pain?
Physiotherapy
Price on enquiryProgressive loading rehab is the evidence-based first-line treatment for rotator-cuff and impingement-pattern pain. Manual therapy supports the active work: typically 6–12 sessions over 8–16 weeks.
See treatment detail →Shockwave Therapy
Price on enquiryFor calcific rotator-cuff tendinopathy that has not settled with loading, focused shockwave therapy is a NICE-supported adjunct: used alongside the rehab programme, never instead of it.
See treatment detail →Workplace Physiotherapy
Price on enquiryFor shoulder pain in desk workers, monitor and keyboard positioning are usually contributors. A workplace assessment alongside rehab prevents recurrence.
See treatment detail →Sports Massage
Price on enquiryUseful for muscular tension around the upper trapezius and pec-minor that often accompanies shoulder pain, but not a stand-alone treatment.
See treatment detail →Dry Needling & Acupuncture
Price on enquiryTrigger-point needling can ease tension in the upper trapezius and around the shoulder girdle to open a window for active rehab: one part of the plan, used alongside active rehab.
See treatment detail →FAQ
Common questions about
shoulder pain in London
Should I get an MRI for shoulder pain?
Usually not as a first step. MRI of the shoulder frequently shows partial-thickness rotator-cuff changes that are present in pain-free people too, so the scan rarely changes management for early shoulder pain. Imaging becomes appropriate when symptoms persist beyond 6–12 weeks of rehab, when there is significant trauma, or when surgery is being considered. Start with a clinical assessment.
Will I need surgery for a rotator-cuff tear?
Most non-traumatic rotator-cuff problems do not need surgery first. The CSAW trial (Lancet, 2018) found arthroscopic subacromial decompression gave no meaningful benefit over no surgery, so structured exercise is the recommended starting point. Many degenerative tears respond to a 12-week loading programme; surgery is reserved for traumatic full-thickness tears or disabling symptoms after rehab.
How long does frozen shoulder take to resolve?
Frozen shoulder follows three phases: freezing (painful, around 3–9 months), frozen (stiff, 4–12 months), and thawing (resolution, up to 24 months). Physiotherapy through all three phases reduces pain, maintains range of motion, and accelerates the thawing phase. We avoid aggressive stretching during the freezing phase (which worsens pain) and gradually increase mobility work as the pain settles.
I had a shoulder dislocation: can physio prevent another?
Yes, and it should be a priority. Recurrent dislocation rates are particularly high in younger patients without proper rehab: strong rotator-cuff and scapular stabilisers significantly reduce recurrence. We typically work through a 12-week progressive programme covering range of motion, isometric strength, dynamic strength, and sport-specific or work-specific loading. Start within 2–4 weeks of the initial event for best outcomes.
Related Concerns
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Soho Physiotherapy • 111 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0DT
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