Two Burnaby Locations
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Direct billing available
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ICBC + WorkSafeBC
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Integrated rehab + training
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Online booking available
Burnaby Physiotherapy
Shoulder Pain Physiotherapy in Burnaby
Shoulder pain can make pressing, pulling, sleeping, reaching overhead, or even getting dressed surprisingly frustrating. At Driftwood Athletics, we assess how the shoulder, rib cage, upper back, neck, and training history are working together so treatment is based on function, not guesswork.
What this is ?
The shoulder is designed for mobility, which is one reason it can become sensitive when stability, strength, coordination, or loading strategy fall behind the demands placed on it. Shoulder pain can come from the rotator cuff, long head of the biceps, irritated tendons, joint structures, previous instability, overload from sport or lifting, or movement patterns that keep provoking the same tissues.
People often assume a painful shoulder means they should stop all upper-body training, but that is not always necessary. In many cases, the goal is to find what the shoulder currently tolerates, then build from there.
Common causes
Common contributors include too much pressing or pulling volume, sudden return to overhead work, poor scapular control, reduced thoracic mobility, poor tolerance to hanging or kipping, deconditioning after time off, or unresolved irritation after a minor strain.
Symptoms and when to get assessed
It is time to get assessed if pain is affecting sleep, overhead movement, front rack, pressing, pull-ups, sport, or confidence with upper-body work. Sudden loss of motion, obvious instability, or major trauma deserve prompt assessment.
How we assess it
A strong assessment looks at painful tasks, range of motion, strength, scapular control, neck contribution, thoracic movement, training volume, and whether the pain is primarily load-sensitive, stiff, unstable, or movement-specific.
How treatment works
Shoulder treatment often includes pain-guided loading, rotator cuff and scapular strengthening, thoracic mobility work, exercise modification, education, and in some cases manual therapy where appropriate.
Recovery & return to activity
Recovery tends to go better when people understand that rehab is not only about mobility. Many shoulders need better strength, better timing, and better graduated exposure to the positions they fear or avoid.
Why Choose Driftwood Athletics
Driftwood combines clinical assessment with a training environment where shoulder function can be rebuilt practically and progressively.
Can I still train upper body?
Often yes, with the right modifications.
Is shoulder clicking always a problem?
Not necessarily. Noises alone do not always indicate damage.
Do I need imaging?
Not always. Many shoulder problems can be assessed without imaging first.
Can old shoulder pain improve?
Very often, yes, especially with a structured and progressive plan.