Shoulder pain has a way of interrupting the simplest parts of daily life. Reaching into a cabinet, washing your hair, fastening a bra, or sliding a jacket on can suddenly feel impossible. For many people, the cause is rooted in problems with shoulder mobility—often tied to frozen shoulder, rotator cuff strains, or inflammation that limits how the upper body moves.

According to ProHealth Physical Therapy and Pilates Studio’s lead physical therapist, Dr. Karyn Staples, PT, PhD, frozen shoulder and rotator cuff–related issues are two of the most common reasons people seek shoulder mobility treatment. Both can dramatically limit shoulder range of motion, but both respond well to physical therapy. As she explains in a recent discussion, the goal is simple: “restore range of motion safely and with as little increased pain as possible.”

Why Shoulder Mobility Declines

Frozen shoulder often begins with a small strain—something as simple as reaching awkwardly or sleeping in a position that irritated the tendons. The next morning, the arm suddenly won’t move as it should. “The body goes into protective mode,” Dr. Staples said. “It stiffens things up so the shoulder won’t move, and that decreases circulation and slows healing.”

This cycle of poor mobility and poor healing affects the entire upper body. The muscles of the neck and upper back begin compensating, which can lead to broader upper body pain.

Rotator cuff injuries follow a similar pattern. The cuff is made of four muscles—subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor—that work together to keep the shoulder’s “golf ball on a tee,” as Dr. Staples describes it. When one of these tendons becomes strained or inflamed, the balance is lost. “We’re looking to make sure all of these structures are supporting each other equally,” she said. “Nobody should be working harder than it should.”

Why Women in Perimenopause Are at Higher Risk

A growing body of research highlights why frozen shoulder appears so frequently in women in their 40s and 50s. Drops in estrogen reduce collagen levels, which affects tendon pliability and healing. Dr. Staples noted that, “the biggest thing is frozen shoulder, which is usually caused by a tendinopathy. The tendons aren’t getting the estrogen they used to, so they don’t heal as easily.”

This makes timely frozen shoulder physical therapy especially important for restoring movement before stiffness becomes severe.

How Physical Therapy Restores Shoulder Motion

Physical therapy focuses on restoring motion before introducing strengthening. “Strengthening isn’t added right away,” Dr. Staples said. “The tendon and muscle need time to heal with some rest.”

PT for frozen shoulder or rotator cuff rehab generally includes:

Gentle, guided range-of-motion work Therapists help move the shoulder safely through pain-free ranges to improve circulation and reduce stiffness.

Movement retraining Proper shoulder mechanics—how the ball moves in the socket—are essential. Many patients compensate with the neck or upper back without realizing it.

Mobility-focused home exercises Dr. Staples often recommends simple, structured mobility work such as Fletcher towel pulls, which help engage the rotator cuff while keeping the shoulder centered.

Pain-relief modalities ProHealth therapists may use ultrasound to reduce inflammation, electrical stimulation to calm muscle spasms, dry needling for trigger points, or manual therapy to ease tension. These approaches can offer immediate upper body pain relief while longer-term mobility improves.

A Real Patient Example

One patient in her 50s—an active hiker—strained her shoulder while grabbing a tree root on a trail. She tried to wait it out, but the stiffness never improved. After medical evaluation, she began physical therapy.

Over two months, her shoulder range of motion returned; she could again fasten a bra behind her back, wash her hair, and lift her arm into a jacket. She continued her hiking hobby without pain. A follow-up visit after extended travel showed she had maintained her progress.

Stories like this are typical: with consistent mobility work, individualized treatment, and gradual strengthening, frozen shoulder and rotator cuff injuries can improve significantly—even months after symptoms begin.

When to Call a Physical Therapist

Dr. Staples encourages people not to wait. Early intervention prevents further stiffness and reduces compensatory patterns that make recovery longer.

Georgia residents can begin physical therapy without a doctor’s referral for the first eight visits. If a referral becomes necessary, the PT team will help coordinate the next steps.

Even patients who have been living with limited motion for months—like the example discussed at the end of the transcript—remain excellent candidates for PT. The body simply needs guided movement and a clear plan to restore function.

ProHealth Physical Therapy and Pilates Studio is located at 1777 Georgian Park in Peachtree City. For more information or to book an appointment, phone 770-487-1931 or visit prohealthga.com.