Assess
A detailed history and a thorough examination of movement, strength and the affected area. You leave knowing what is wrong, why it happened and exactly what we are going to do about it.
Concern
Shoulder Pain and Rotator Cuff Treatment in London
Rotator cuff problems and frozen shoulder account for most of the shoulder pain we treat, and both respond well to properly loaded rehabilitation. The difficulty is that they behave very differently, so getting the diagnosis right at the start changes the whole plan.
Overview
Understanding shoulder pain
Shoulder pain has a small number of common causes, and telling them apart matters because the treatment differs substantially.
Rotator cuff related shoulder pain is the most frequent. It typically hurts on reaching, lifting overhead or lying on that side, and it responds well to progressive loading of the cuff and surrounding musculature. Structured exercise is the evidence-based first-line approach, and the large CSAW trial published in 2018 found that subacromial decompression surgery gave no meaningful benefit over placebo surgery for this presentation, which is a strong argument for doing the rehabilitation properly first.
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) behaves differently: it progressively restricts movement in every direction, including when someone else moves your arm for you, and it follows a long natural course through painful, stiff and thawing phases. Management focuses on pain control and maintaining what range you have, with realistic expectations about timeframes.
Assessment establishes which you are dealing with, and treatment follows from there through physiotherapy and graded exercise rehabilitation.
Excellent
From 4 five-star Google reviews
Source: Google
I saw Amanda for a problem I've been having with a painful shoulder. She explained to me what the problem was, did a thorough treatment session and gave me some exercises to do to improve it. Very professional and friendly, I highly recommend her.
I first visited Amanda following a maisonneuve fracture. That day I walked 107 steps in a camboot with two crutches. I have visited weekly. Yesterday I walked 13,315 steps (no crutches, no boot). The transformation is truly amazing.
I booked with Michelle for my first appointment. When I stood up I said to her it feels like heaven as my continuous back pain had totally gone. I was totally pain free for 7 hours so bless you Michelle.
Excellent treatment of my lower back and related sciatica injuries from CrossFit. Definitely my go-to therapist when in dire need of pain relief.
Physiotherapy for shoulder pain can help you to:
Find out which shoulder problem you actually have
Rotator cuff pain, frozen shoulder and referred neck pain present similarly but need very different management. Assessment separates them, and getting that right at the start is what stops months being wasted on the wrong plan.
Rebuild the cuff properly
Progressive loading of the rotator cuff and scapular muscles is the evidence-based first-line treatment. It takes patience, but it is what resolves the problem where passive treatment alone does not.
Make an informed decision about surgery
The CSAW trial found subacromial decompression gave no meaningful benefit over placebo surgery for rotator cuff related pain. We will give you the evidence plainly so any decision you make is an informed one.
Sleep through the night again
Night pain is one of the most wearing parts of a shoulder problem. Practical positioning changes alongside treatment usually make a noticeable difference within the first few weeks.
Get back overhead
Whether the goal is the gym, a racket sport or reaching a top shelf without wincing, we build the plan around the specific overhead demand you want back, then load towards it progressively.
Why it happens
What causes shoulder pain?
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Rotator cuff tendinopathy from a sudden increase in overhead or loaded work
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Deconditioning of the rotator cuff and scapular stabilising muscles
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Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), sometimes following a period of immobility
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Referred pain from the cervical spine mimicking a shoulder problem
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Acute traumatic injury such as a fall onto an outstretched hand or the shoulder itself
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Post-operative stiffness following shoulder surgery
What happens at your first appointment?
Your first visit is a full 60-minute assessment: a detailed history, then testing of how you move, how strong you are and what the painful area is actually doing. We explain the working diagnosis in plain English and agree a plan with you before any treatment starts.
You leave with a written summary and a home programme, emailed the same day and loaded into the Move Health app so the technique stays right between visits.
The starting point for better health. Our clinics work together to take you from injury, through recovery and performance, to the kind of health that holds up for decades. One team, one plan, one record of where you started.
- Two London clinics: inside UNTIL at 280 Bishopsgate by Liverpool Street, and in Canary Wharf.
- Led by Amanda Yardley, an HCPC-registered, CSP-chartered physiotherapist with 15 years in the profession.
- Objective VALD strength and asymmetry testing, so progress is measured rather than guessed at.
Fees and booking
You can refer yourself, with no GP letter needed, and book online in a couple of minutes at whichever clinic is easier to reach.
- Initial consultation: £120 for 60 minutes, including assessment and treatment plan
- Follow-up: £95 for 60 minutes, or £75 for 30 minutes
- Sports massage: £85 for 60 minutes, or £55 for 30 minutes
- Self-referral: book directly, no GP referral required
- Open Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm, at both London clinics
- A written plan and a home programme emailed the same day, every time
From injury to longevity
the Origin Health journey
Most people arrive with something that hurts. What happens after that is the part most clinics leave to chance. We treat the problem, rebuild the capacity you lost, then keep you strong enough that it stays fixed.
Treat
Hands-on manual therapy chosen for your presentation, with Western medical acupuncture or soft-tissue work added where they help. Treatment is not the goal in itself: it opens the window to move and load properly.
Rebuild
Progressive, coached exercise rehabilitation restores the strength and load tolerance you lost, with full gym facilities at both clinics. This is the stage that decides whether the fix lasts.
Stay well
Each follow-up measures you against your own baseline. We discharge you when you have the strength and the tools to manage alone, with clinical Pilates, sports massage and golf screening on hand to keep you there.
What we treat
- Musculoskeletal physiotherapy for back, neck, shoulder and joint pain
- Progressive exercise rehabilitation, with full gym facilities at both clinics
- Sports and deep tissue massage for recovery and ongoing maintenance
- Western medical acupuncture within the AACP framework
- Post-operative and sports-injury rehabilitation
- Post-natal and paediatric musculoskeletal physiotherapy
- VALD strength and asymmetry testing for objective, tracked progress
- TPI golf physiotherapy movement screening with Amanda
Treatment approach
How do we treat shoulder pain?
Physiotherapy
£120Accurate diagnosis is the critical step, because rotator cuff pain, frozen shoulder and referred neck pain need very different management despite presenting similarly.
See treatment detail →Exercise Rehabilitation
From £75Progressive loading of the rotator cuff and scapular muscles is the evidence-based first-line treatment for rotator cuff related shoulder pain.
See treatment detail →Acupuncture
From £75Available as an adjunct where pain is persistent and limiting the active rehabilitation that resolves the problem.
See treatment detail →FAQ
Frequently asked
questions
Do I need surgery for a rotator cuff problem?
Usually not. The CSAW trial published in the Lancet in 2018 found subacromial decompression surgery gave no meaningful benefit over placebo surgery for rotator cuff related shoulder pain. Structured, progressive rehabilitation is the appropriate first-line approach for most people.
How do I know if I have a frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder progressively restricts movement in all directions, including when someone else moves your arm for you. That passive restriction is the distinguishing feature: rotator cuff problems usually hurt on active movement but allow more range when the arm is moved for you.
How long does frozen shoulder take to resolve?
It follows a long course, commonly one to three years through painful, stiff and thawing phases, though many cases resolve faster. Treatment focuses on managing pain and preserving range. We will be honest about the timeframe rather than promising a quick fix.
Why does my shoulder hurt more at night?
Night pain is characteristic of both rotator cuff problems and frozen shoulder, partly because lying on the shoulder compresses it and partly because there is nothing to distract from the symptoms. Sleeping position adjustments usually help, and we cover these in your plan.
Related Concerns
Get Started
Book a physiotherapy appointment
in the City or Canary Wharf.
Origin Health • 280 Bishopsgate, Liverpool Street, London EC2M 4RB
BookAppointments typically available within 1–2 weeks