RX Physiotherapy

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Shoulder Pain Treatment

SHOULDER PAIN TREATMENT AT RX PHYSIOTHERAPY

At Rx Physiotherapy, we understand the significant impact shoulder pain can have on your ability to perform daily activities and engage in the sports or hobbies you love. Our dedicated shoulder pain treatment is rooted in a comprehensive understanding of the shoulder’s complex anatomy and the various conditions that can lead to pain and dysfunction. We are committed to providing knowledgeable, personalised care to reduce your pain, restore function, and prevent future issues.

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(+61) 423 252 749

Why do we get shoulder pain?

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in your body — which means it’s also the least stable.

Pain often comes from:
• Weakness or fatigue around the rotator cuff
• Poor shoulder blade control
• Tissue irritation from overload
• Posture or mobility restrictions
• Instability following falls or sport
• Tendon issues that haven’t been loaded properly
• Old injuries you never fully rehabbed

Most shoulders don’t break — they simply stop coping with what you’re asking them to do.

Who We Treat

• Gym members building strength and muscle
• Tradies and workers lifting overhead
• Athletes in throwing, swimming and contact sports
• New parents holding babies for hours
• People with frozen shoulders or bursitis
• Clients who’ve “rested” and only gotten worse

Beginner to athlete — we’ll take you from pain to power.

Strength Changes Everything

The shoulder thrives on load — the right load, gradually built.

When you improve:
✔ Rotator cuff strength → your joint feels stable
✔ Scapular control → lifting becomes smoother
✔ Posterior chain strength → posture improves effortlessly
✔ Overhead strength → tendons stay calm and resilient

Strength doesn’t just relieve pain — it prevents it returning.

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Our Approach to Shoulder Rehabilitation

At RX Physiotherapy, we believe in a highly personalised approach to Shoulder rehabilitation. Here’s how our programme works:

We start with a comprehensive initial consultation to understand your specific goals and assess the current condition of your Shoulder. During this session, we’ll discuss your medical history and how your Shoulder issues are affecting your daily life. This evaluation helps us design a fully customised rehabilitation plan that addresses your specific needs. 

Your first session builds the foundation for everything that follows. You leave with clarity and a concrete plan.

  • Clear diagnosis and explanation of your condition

  • Written treatment plan outlining what to avoid and what to focus on

  • Exercises loaded into our app with video demos

  • Pain and rep tracking so we can adjust based on real data

We restore healthy movement by combining hands-on treatment with targeted exercise in the right order.

  • Massage, dry needling, cupping and joint techniques as needed

  • Release guarded, overprotective muscles so they can actually activate

  • Restore joint range of motion and control

  • Begin graded movement and load through full, comfortable range

Once you’re moving well, we build strength and resilience so the same problem is far less likely to return.

  • Progressive strength training for muscles, tendons and joints

  • Balance, stability and control around the injured area

  • Sport- or lifestyle-specific loading (lifting, running, work tasks)

  • Build confidence so you can trust your body again

We’ve taught you how to move and train; now we help you keep it going long-term, with support when you need it.

  • Strength and recovery memberships to maintain results

  • Periodic physio check-ins to course-correct early

  • Education so you understand what keeps your body feeling good

  • A trusted team to return to when life gets hectic again

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Proficiency in Shoulder Conditions

The team at Rx Physiotherapy brings together focused knowledge and experience in the treatment of shoulder conditions. Through ongoing training and engagement with the latest clinical research, we ensure that our treatment methods are up-to-date and evidence-based, offering you the highest standard of care.

A Comprehensive Approach to Recovery

Our treatment for shoulder pain encompasses a variety of techniques, tailored to address the root cause of your pain and promote healing. This may include manual therapy to improve joint mobility, exercises to strengthen the shoulder and improve stability, and modalities to reduce pain and inflammation. Education on posture and ergonomics is also a key part of our approach, helping you to avoid activities that may exacerbate your pain.

Education and Empowerment

We believe that understanding your shoulder condition is crucial to your recovery. Our team provides detailed explanations of your diagnosis and treatment plan, empowering you with the knowledge to take an active role in your rehabilitation and to make informed decisions about your health.

Ongoing Support for Long-term Health

Recovery from shoulder pain is a journey, and our support extends beyond your sessions at our clinic. We offer guidance on exercises and lifestyle changes that can be integrated into your daily routine, aiming to improve your condition and reduce the likelihood of future injuries.

Building a Supportive Community

The path to recovery is often more manageable with the support of others who understand your experience. At Rx Physiotherapy, we encourage our patients to share their journeys and offer support to one another, creating a community of individuals united in their pursuit of health and well-being.

YOUR PARTNER IN SHOULDER HEALTH

Choosing Rx Physiotherapy for your shoulder pain treatment means selecting a partner dedicated to your well-being. Our informed care, personalised approach, and comprehensive support system are crafted to help you achieve optimal shoulder health and return to the activities you love, pain-free.
Let us support you on your journey to recovery and beyond, with compassionate care and focused knowledge every step of the way.

Book Your Appointment Now

Want to Learn More? Read Our blog!

Shoulder pain can prevent MAXIMUM gains & PEAK performance. Shoulder pain/injury is the most COMMON injury location for gym & sporting athletes, as per multiple academic studies. But why?
Why?
The shoulder has the largest range of motion of all the joints in the body and therefore it requires 3 things: (1) strength, (2) stability and (3) endurance throughout a large range of motion.
Various Sports Depend on These
CrossFit, weightlifting and other various sports require a high level of all 3 of the above variables. If an athlete is lacking in any of these whilst trying to perform highly complex movements, they will put themselves at a higher risk of shoulder pain from muscle strains, tendinopathies, labral tears, rotator cuff tears/ ruptures, etc.
Reduced Gains & Performance
More muscular imbalances can lead to the dominance of certain muscles and hence the overuse of these muscles resulting in pain & dysfunction. This can also reduce your training performance and hold back your strength gains.
Bulletproof Your Shoulders
Bullet proof your shoulders today! Our dedicated shoulder pain treatment is rooted in a deep understanding of the shoulder’s complex anatomy and the various conditions that can lead to pain and dysfunction.
If you are dealing with shoulder pain, a physio clinic may be what you need. Click "Book Now" to read more on shoulder pain and the personalised services our physio clinic can provide you.
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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.