Holistic Sports Physiotherapy

01/03/2026

March specials are here. Half price clinical Pilates or strength and conditioning assessment. Plus save on a group training 10 pass. T&C apply. .

22/02/2026

Sore shoulder?
Kate has Same Day Physio appointments available.
Call 0413595006. Oliver Street Kedron.

Shoulder Pain: Understanding the Causes & How Physiotherapy Helps

Shoulder pain is very common and can affect sleep, work, sport and daily activities such as lifting, dressing or reaching overhead. The shoulder is a complex joint that relies on a balance of movement, strength and control. When this balance is disrupted, pain and stiffness can develop.

The most common causes of shoulder pain include bursitis, rotator cuff–related pain or tears, and frozen shoulder.

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Shoulder Bursitis

What is it?
A bursa is a small fluid-filled sac that reduces friction between tendons and bone. In the shoulder, inflammation of the subacromial bursa can cause pain, particularly with lifting the arm.

Common symptoms
• Pain when lifting the arm overhead
• Pain lying on the affected shoulder
• Ache at rest or at night

Key research facts
• Bursitis is often linked to overload, repetitive movement or poor shoulder mechanics, rather than a single injury
• Imaging findings (such as inflammation on ultrasound) do not always correlate with pain levels
• Most cases improve with conservative treatment, not injections or surgery

How physiotherapy helps
• Load management and activity modification
• Manual therapy to improve shoulder and upper back movement
• Targeted exercises to restore strength and control
• Education to prevent recurrence

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Rotator Cuff–Related Pain & Tears

What is it?
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that stabilise the shoulder. Pain can occur due to tendon overload, degeneration, or tearing.

Common symptoms
• Pain with lifting, reaching or carrying
• Weakness or fatigue in the shoulder
• Night pain or difficulty sleeping on that side

Key research facts
• Rotator cuff tears are very common with age, even in people without pain
• Studies show exercise-based physiotherapy can be as effective as surgery for many partial and even full-thickness tears
• Pain is more closely linked to how the shoulder is functioning, not the size of the tear

How physiotherapy helps
• Progressive strengthening of the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles
• Improving shoulder load tolerance and movement patterns
• Gradual return to work, sport and daily activities
• Reducing pain without unnecessary surgery

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Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)

What is it?
Frozen shoulder is a condition characterised by progressive stiffness and pain due to thickening of the shoulder capsule. It commonly occurs between ages 40–60.

Common symptoms
• Gradual onset of pain followed by increasing stiffness
• Severe restriction in shoulder movement
• Pain at night and difficulty with everyday tasks

Key research facts
• Frozen shoulder often lasts 12–24 months, but recovery can be improved with the right treatment
• It is more common in people with diabetes, thyroid conditions or hormonal changes
• Early education and appropriate physiotherapy reduce long-term stiffness

How physiotherapy helps
• Pain-relieving strategies during early stages
• Gentle, progressive mobility exercises
• Preventing excessive stiffness while respecting tissue healing
• Guidance through each stage of recovery

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Why Physiotherapy is Important

Research consistently shows that physiotherapy is the first-line treatment for most shoulder conditions. A tailored program can:
• Reduce pain and inflammation
• Restore movement and strength
• Improve sleep and daily function
• Reduce the need for injections or surgery

Early assessment ensures the right diagnosis, appropriate load management, and a plan that suits your lifestyle and goals.

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If shoulder pain is limiting your movement, sleep or activity, an individualised physiotherapy program can help you recover safely and confidently.dat

22/02/2026

Shoulder pain? Kate has a special interest in shoulder injuries. Appointments available all week.

15/02/2026

Perimenopausal? Want to get strong 💪 and increase your bone 🦴 density? Train with our experienced Physios (who are all mums too!). One on one, group or online training sessions available now.

11/02/2026

Don’t put up with pain any longer. Same day appointments available now!

09/02/2026

Did you know ACL injuries can heal? Surgery is not always needed.

📘 In a brand-new longitudinal, pragmatic cohort study (NACOX), Kvist and colleagues (https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2026.13397) investigated whether the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) shows measurable structural “recovery” on high-resolution MRI during the first two years after an acute ACL rupture, and whether MRI signs of continuity

🦵 The authors followed 129 patients aged 15–40 years who sustained a primary ACL injury within the previous six weeks and were managed according to routine Swedish practice: structured, supervised rehabilitation as first-line care (immediate weight bearing, no range of motion restrictions, and criteria-based progression through the different phases of rehabilitation) with ACL reconstruction (ACLR) considered later if needed.

🩻 Participants underwent 3-Tesla 3D proton-density fat-saturated MRI at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. ACL morphology was graded using the ACTS system (Continuity, Thickness, Shape), designed to separate true fiber continuity from surrounding synovial or scar tissue; two experienced readers scored scans independently and then reached consensus.

📉 Patient-reported outcomes (e.g., IKDC-SKF), perceived stability, episodes of “giving way,” instrumented anterior laxity (KT-1000), quadriceps strength, and activity level were assessed at follow-ups.

📊 Over 24 months, 47% of participants underwent ACLR. Among those with available MRIs prior to any censoring event (ACLR or a new ACL-affecting injury), nearly half showed evidence of ligament continuity at their last MRI: 48% for overall ACL structure and 43% for fiber continuity. Importantly, ACTS grades improved by at least one step in a substantial proportion of patients across follow-ups (reported range 31%–81%, depending on timepoint and domain).

📊 MRI-defined continuity also mattered clinically. At 24 months, patients with evidence of continuity in overall ACL structure reported fewer giving-way episodes (11% vs 50%), and continuity was associated with lower sagittal laxity at both 12 and 24 months (including fewer patients exceeding a ≥3 mm side-to-side KT-1000 difference). Fiber continuity was additionally linked to better quadriceps strength symmetry at 24 months. In contrast, associations with broader patient-reported outcomes were uncertain, largely because estimates were imprecise (wide confidence intervals).

💡 Taken together, the study challenges the traditional assumption that a ruptured ACL cannot regain structural continuity without reconstruction.

⭕ At the same time, the authors are careful about inference: follow-up at 24 months was limited (n=43), baseline imaging sometimes occurred relatively late after injury, rotational instability was not assessed instrumentally, and early ACLR truncated MRI follow-up for many patients—factors that may blur both the true healing rate and its relationship to symptoms and function.

08/02/2026

Teen Clinical Pilates - Monday 415pm with our experienced physio and mum of 3 Kate. Only 2 spots remaining. DM or email for details

26/01/2026

We can’t wait for Kate to start next week. Plenty of appointments available including before and after work. Don’t miss out on a great saving while you feel better too!

25/01/2026

Join us for Stretch and Breathe, Mondays 930am at Wavell Community Hall.

18/01/2026

Men can suffer from osteoporosis too. Join our Physio-led exercise classes to improve your bone density, balance, flexibility and fitness.

12/01/2026

Have you read our latest blog?

Patellofemoral Pain: How Physiotherapy Can Help

11/01/2026

Our Physiotherapist led Men’s Circuit Training Session resumes this Wednesday 14th Jan at Wavell Hall.
bookings at www.holisticsportsphysio.com.au
ABN 61 917 101 679
Clinic located at 36 Oliver Street, Kedron