Shoulder
Shoulder pain when you reach overhead, pain lying on that side at night, or a shoulder that has slowly stiffened are all common, and most improve with physical therapy, without surgery.
Yes, physical therapy helps frozen shoulder and rotator cuff pain. Exercise-based physical therapy is a first-line treatment for most rotator cuff problems, including many age-related tears, and the physical therapy guideline for frozen shoulder supports mobility exercises, hands-on treatment and education, sometimes alongside an injection from your doctor. At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist.
Rotator cuff pain comes from the group of four muscles and tendons that steady and lift the shoulder. Tendons can become irritated from overuse, and many people over 50 have small tears that develop gradually with age. The shoulder usually still moves, but it hurts and feels weak in certain positions.
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is when the joint capsule thickens and tightens, so the shoulder becomes painful and stiff in every direction. It is most common between ages 40 and 60, more common in women and in people with diabetes or thyroid conditions, and it tends to move through a painful “freezing” stage, a stiff “frozen” stage and a gradual “thawing” stage. Physical therapy helps you keep moving and recover motion through each stage.
Desk work often plays a part. Hours at a computer with the mouse too far away, the arm unsupported, or the head and shoulders drifting forward can keep an irritated shoulder from settling. That’s why we look at your neck, shoulder blade and workstation, not just the sore spot.
Your first visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. We test your shoulder’s motion, strength and which movements hurt, and check your neck and upper back, which often play a part.
Hands-on treatment and stretching matched to how irritable your shoulder is: gentle when it’s painful, firmer as it settles.
Progressive strengthening for the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles, simple changes to your desk setup if computer work aggravates it, and a gradual return to reaching, lifting, work and sport, with a home program between visits.
Call 911 if shoulder or arm pain comes with chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath or sweating, because it can be a sign of a heart attack.
See a doctor promptly if you have:
Care at ARI is always one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist at our Bakersfield clinic: 8200 Stockdale Hwy, Suite B2, in the Town & Country Village center next to Trader Joe's. Our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.
Ready to feel better?
Talk to a licensed physical therapist at ARI, one-on-one. Request an evaluation and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.
Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed September 2026