RX Physiotherapy

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Shoulder Rehabilitation in Wollongong, NSW - Restore Your Shoulder Strength

Your Shoulder is the Most Mobile and Vulnerable Joint Make It Strong Again

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What is Shoulder Rehabilitation?

Shoulder rehabilitation is all about helping you regain the strength, mobility, and function of your shoulder after an injury or surgery. It involves a series of targeted exercises and therapeutic techniques designed to reduce pain, improve your range of motion, and build up the muscles needed for daily activities. This process is not just about recovery; it’s about ensuring your shoulder stays strong and resilient, preventing future issues and helping you get back to doing the things you love.

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Our Shoulder Rehabilitation Group Class

Welcome to RX Physiotherapy’s Restore Your Shoulder Strength, a focused program offering Shoulder Rehabilitation in Wollongong, NSW. Led by a knowledgeable physiotherapist, our small group classes are designed to help you regain shoulder function and strength through personalised Shoulder Rehabilitation Exercises. With a limit of five participants per class, you’ll receive focused, one-on-one attention within a supportive group setting, ensuring that each session is tailored to your unique rehabilitation needs.

BOOK your initial appointment today

Or call us at (+61) 423 252 749

Duration

Our ongoing program allows you to start your shoulder rehab journey immediately—no waiting for the next class cycle. Every 6 weeks, we reassess and adjust your program to ensure continuous progress in rehabbing your shoulder. 

Location

Classes are conducted at our state-of-art physiotherapy clinic, located at 1/35 Shellharbour Road, Lake Illawarra, NSW 2528.

Frequency

Sessions are held twice a week, with each session lasting an hour, giving you the perfect balance of activity and recovery.

How to Get Started

Begin with a comprehensive initial consultation where we explore your specific goals and the current state of your shoulder. We will discuss your history and how your shoulder condition impacts your life. Based on this, we determine whether the Shoulder Rehabilitation class is suitable or if more focused one-on-one physiotherapy is needed.

Our specific testing procedure is not only designed to establish a baseline for future comparison but also to align with your daily needs. We make sure to identify the root cause of the problem so we can address it and the surrounding areas directly.

We don’t believe in cookie cutter programs. That is why our physio will design a program specifically to YOU, your goal and where you are currently. Since your program is designed by the same physio leading the class progressions can be made then and there. This ensures continued improvement.

Running progression (straight-line first)

How Our Shoulder Rehabilitation Classes Work?

Warm-Up/Prep

Gentle movements to get the blood flowing, self-release techniques, and specific mobility drills for the upcoming session.

Stability Training

Building awareness and confidence around the shoulder to ensure the muscles can fire and stabilise the joint effectively.

Main Exercises

This is where the bulk of strength progressions is made, focusing on movements that are similar to daily activities.

Accessory Exercises

Less demanding exercises that add to the overall picture, often leading to increased muscle size.

Cool-Down/Flexibility

Gentle movements to bring yourself back to baseline and maximise recovery. Flexibility is crucial to prevent muscle tightness post-exercise.

Note: The above is a general program format. It can and most likely will look very different for each person.

Your Recovery Goals

Experience Less Pain in Everyday Tasks: Enjoy activities like gardening and daily chores with greater ease and less discomfort.

Feel Strong and Capable on Family Outings: Confidently carry your children on bush walks and other adventures.

Return to the Sports You Love: Get back to your favourite sports and enjoy your weekends with friends without fear of injury.

Reach Overhead with Confidence: Regain control and ease when lifting or reaching for objects above your head.

Expected Outcomes

Improve Shoulder Stability: Feel secure when pushing, pulling, or lifting with better joint stability.

Expand Your Range of Motion: Perform tasks like combing your hair or reaching behind you with more freedom and less restriction.

Reduce the Risk of Future Injuries: Strengthen your shoulder to make it more resilient and prevent future problems.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Common Questions on Shoulder Pain & Injuries

Shoulder pain and injuries can result from various factors, including overuse, sports-related activities, accidents, or age-related wear and tear. Common causes include rotator cuff tears, tendinitis, shoulder impingement, dislocations, and frozen shoulder. Each of these conditions can limit your shoulder’s mobility and strength, making proper rehabilitation crucial for recovery.

Symptoms of a shoulder injury can vary but often include pain, stiffness, limited range of motion, and weakness in the affected shoulder. You might also experience swelling, a clicking or popping sound when moving your shoulder, or difficulty performing everyday tasks such as lifting or reaching overhead. If these symptoms persist, it’s important to seek professional assessment to prevent further damage.

 If you experience persistent shoulder pain, loss of mobility, or weakness that doesn’t improve with rest, it’s essential to seek treatment. Early intervention can prevent further damage and promote a quicker recovery. Additionally, if your shoulder pain is severe, or accompanied by swelling, redness, or a sudden inability to use the joint, it’s critical to consult a trained physiotherapist promptly.

The timeline for shoulder rehabilitation is unique to each person, depending on the severity of your injury and how your body responds to treatment. While recovery can range from a few weeks to several months, we’re committed to guiding you every step of the way. At Rx Physiotherapy, we reassess your progress every 6 weeks, making any necessary adjustments to keep you on track toward achieving your recovery goals.

Our trained physiotherapists employ a wide range of rehabilitation techniques, each tailored to your unique needs. These may include targeted exercises to rebuild strength and mobility, manual therapies like massage or joint mobilisation, and advanced methods such as dry needling and taping. To further support your recovery, we can also design a customised home exercise program, helping you stay on track and prevent future injuries.

Ready to start your personalised rehabilitation journey?

BOOK your initial appointment today

Or call us at (+61) 423 252 749

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Dr. April Patterson

Physiotherapist

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Dr. April Patterson graduated from Bond University with a Doctor of Physiotherapy degree and founded RX Physiotherapy in 2019 with a vision to provide exceptional, personalised care. As a physiotherapist living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), hypermobility, and Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) issues, April brings a rare combination of personal insight and professional expertise to her practice. Her own experiences with these conditions fuel her passion for understanding and treating them, allowing her to empathise deeply with her patients and guide them with authenticity and compassion.

April has a huge passion for in EDS, Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), and TMJ dysfunction, while also treating all joints and musculoskeletal conditions. She personally conducts initial assessments to understand each patient’s story, goals, and challenges before referring them to her highly skilled team for ongoing care. Her holistic, evidence-based approach blends manual therapy, strength and conditioning, pain management, and education to help clients regain function, confidence, and independence.

As Managing Director, April maintains the highest standard of care through weekly team sessions to review progress, provide guidance, and support professional development. This ensures that every patient receives structured, personalised care, while allowing her to focus on leadership, strategy, and advancing the clinic’s mission.

Outside the clinic, April enjoys hitting the gym, cooking, and spending quality time with her partner, her two dachshunds and two cats.

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Ms. Laura Flemming

Physiotherapist

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Laura is a senior physiotherapist with six years of experience across hospital, private practice, community, and sports settings. She began her career at Wollongong Hospital before moving to Sydney, where she expanded her skills in musculoskeletal rehab, neurological rehab, and community-based care. During this time she became a Level 1 Strength and Conditioning Coach and worked with junior representative soccer teams in the St George region. Now back in the Illawarra, she’s excited to support her local community again.

Laura’s approach is grounded in understanding the individual—what they value, what they hope to achieve, and how their condition impacts their life. She focuses on meaningful outcomes through a blend of manual therapy, strength training, pain management, patient education, and personalised rehabilitation programs. Her experience spans acute and chronic injuries, post-operative rehab, strength and endurance training, falls prevention, and neurological conditions including stroke and brain injury.

She has a strong interest in working with people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), and she brings extensive experience supporting participants within the NDIS. She also specialises in treating TMJ/jaw dysfunction, helping clients reduce pain, improve mobility, and address the muscular and biomechanical factors contributing to their symptoms. Her calm, collaborative style helps clients feel understood, supported, and confident navigating long-term conditions.

Outside the clinic, you’ll find Laura hiking up mountains, writing music, playing soccer, or training for the occasional triathlon or running event.

Whether you’re managing pain, recovering from an injury, or navigating a complex condition like EDS, HSD, or TMJ dysfunction, Laura can help with all joints and musculoskeletal concerns, guiding you with structure, clarity, and genuine care.

Mr. Trent Cooksley

Physiotherapist

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Trent is a physiotherapist who genuinely cares about people — the kind who listens properly, meets you where you’re at, and helps you feel comfortable from the moment you walk in. He has that big brother energy; calm, thoughtful, easy to talk to, and always looking out for you. His focus is simple — helping you move better, feel stronger, and get back to the things that matter to you, whether that’s training, sport, work, or living life without pain.

He treats a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including shoulder, knee, lower back, neck, and ankle injuries, and works with people of all ages and activity levels. Trent’s approach is hands-on, structured, and tailored to the individual. He’s not about quick fixes or generic programs — he takes the time to understand your body, your goals, and what’s been holding you back, then builds a clear plan to help you move forward with confidence.

Born and raised in Wollongong, Trent grew up immersed in sport. He played soccer with the Woonona Sharks and was involved in everything from tennis and golf to swimming, footy, cricket, and AFL. As a teenager, golf became his focus, earning him a place in the IAS Golf Program and later a college golf scholarship in Abilene, Texas. Experiencing injuries firsthand — and seeing how physiotherapy restored his performance — shaped the way he now supports others through injury, rehab, and long-term recovery.

Outside the clinic, Trent is easygoing, down-to-earth, and approachable. You’ll find him on the golf course, in the surf, or catching up with friends. That same calm, supportive energy carries into his sessions, helping clients feel at ease, understood, and supported every step of the way.

If you’re dealing with pain, injury, or ongoing frustration with your body, Trent is someone you can trust to have your back — and help you move with clarity, confidence, and strength again.

Ms. Emily Yorkston

Physiotherapist

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Emily is a senior physiotherapist with extensive experience across musculoskeletal, neurological, orthopaedic, women’s health, and paediatric physiotherapy. She has worked in a wide range of clinical settings, including rural outreach programs and allied health leadership roles, which have shaped her holistic, collaborative, and genuinely client-centred approach to care.

Emily is a highly empathetic physiotherapist with lived experience of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), giving her a rare and deeply personal understanding of the physical, emotional, and day-to-day challenges faced by people living with complex and chronic conditions. She has a strong clinical interest in hypermobility (HSD, EDS), TMJ and jaw dysfunction and women’s health, and has completed APA Women’s Health Level 1 training. Emily is skilled in assessing and treating all joints and a broad range of musculoskeletal presentations, from everyday pain to complex, multi-system conditions.

She is passionate about helping clients achieve meaningful, sustainable, long-term outcomes. Emily combines personalised rehab programs, hands-on manual therapy, and targeted rehabilitation strategies to improve function, build confidence, and restore independence. Her care is structured, evidence-based, and highly individualised, ensuring every client feels informed, supported, and actively involved in their recovery.

Outside the clinic, Emily enjoys travelling and exploring new experiences, bringing fresh perspective and energy back into her work. She is known for her warm, calm, and motivating style, helping clients feel safe, understood, and empowered throughout their rehabilitation journey.

If you’re living with pain, recovering from injury, or navigating a complex condition such as EDS, HSD, TMJ dysfunction, women’s health concerns, or any musculoskeletal issue, you don’t have to do it alone. Book an appointment with Emily today to receive thoughtful, personalised care and take the next step toward moving with greater comfort, confidence, and trust in your body again.

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Mr Reece Nikitaras

Physiotherapist

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Reece Nikitaras is deeply passionate about optimising human movement and enhancing quality of life through targeted rehabilitation and evidence-based therapeutic techniques. His journey into physiotherapy was driven by a genuine desire to help individuals overcome physical barriers and reach their full potential.

As an avid runner, Reece brings both personal insight and clinical expertise to the treatment of running-related injuries. He is particularly dedicated to helping runners recover from injury, prevent future setbacks, and elevate their performance. Reece has developed a comprehensive running assessment protocol designed to identify biomechanical inefficiencies and areas of weakness, allowing for tailored interventions that support long-term improvement and injury prevention.

Reece also holds a strong clinical interest in knee rehabilitation, with an in-depth understanding of knee biomechanics and the complex nature of knee injuries. He implements highly specialised, results-driven treatment plans to restore function and accelerate recovery in clients dealing with knee concerns.

Always eager to stay at the forefront of his field, Reece consistently seeks out new knowledge and incorporates the latest advancements in physiotherapy research into his practice. His commitment to continuous learning ensures he delivers the highest standard of care to every patient.

Outside of the clinic, Reece enjoys travelling, spending time at the beach, and playing a round of golf.