Shoulder
A catch of pain partway up as you lift your arm, or an ache on the outside of the shoulder after reaching, lifting or overhead work. This kind of shoulder pain is very common, and most people improve with the right exercise, without surgery.
Yes, physical therapy is a first treatment for most shoulder impingement and bursitis. These names usually describe irritation of the rotator cuff tendons and the bursa, a small fluid-filled cushion at the top of the shoulder. A progressive exercise program is the usual first approach, and studies have found that for most people, a common surgery for this problem (subacromial decompression) does not work better than exercise-based care. At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist.
Under the bony point at the top of your shoulder sit the rotator cuff tendons and a thin cushion called the subacromial bursa. When the tendons are overloaded, from a jump in activity, repeated overhead work or simply getting older, they and the bursa can become irritated and sore. You may hear this called shoulder impingement, subacromial bursitis, rotator cuff tendinitis or rotator cuff related shoulder pain. These are largely different names for the same common problem.
The old idea was that a bone was “pinching” the tendon. We now know that how well the tendon handles load matters more than the shape of the bone. That is one reason the right exercise often helps, and why surgery to shave bone often isn't needed.
With impingement and bursitis, the shoulder usually still moves through its full range. It just hurts in certain positions. Frozen shoulder is different: the shoulder slowly becomes stiff in every direction, even when someone else tries to move it. A rotator cuff tear can feel similar, but may also bring real weakness lifting the arm. Our frozen shoulder and rotator cuff guide covers both in detail.
Shoulder pain can also come from the neck, especially if it travels below the elbow or comes with tingling, so your evaluation checks for this too. If night pain or reaching is your main problem, see why the shoulder hurts at night and pain reaching overhead or behind your back.
Tendons get stronger and less sensitive when they are loaded the right amount. A program that gradually strengthens the rotator cuff and the muscles that move your shoulder blade helps the shoulder handle reaching and lifting again. Early on, you may cut back on how much you reach overhead or lift for a while, rather than stop using the arm.
Your first visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. We test how your shoulder and shoulder blade move, which positions bring on the pain, your strength and your neck, and ask what you need your arm to do at home, at work and for fun.
Hands-on treatment and exercises to ease pain, then progressive strengthening for the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles, adjusted so the shoulder is challenged without flaring up.
Step-by-step practice with the overhead and lifting tasks you need, simple changes to how you work, sleep and set up your desk, and a home program to keep the shoulder strong.
Call 911 if shoulder or arm pain comes with chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, sweating or nausea, 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 October 2026