We are an osteopathic clinic in Blackheath offering treatment for shoulder pain and frozen shoulder, alongside a wide range of related conditions including neck pain and elbow pain, and Blackheath back pain clinic and Blackheath sports injury clinic services. We offer a range of physical therapy treatments including osteopathy, sports massage, sports therapy and dry needling.
Booking is easy with our online system. There are no long wait times and you can usually see one of our osteopaths within 24-48 hours of booking an appointment. We’re here to help, and if you have any questions about our services please don’t hesitate to contact us.
The shoulder joint – or glenohumeral joint – connects the humerus (upper arm bone) to the shoulder blade or scapula. It is a ball and socket joint and is considered the most mobile joint in the body, but also the least stable and most likely to be dislocated. Another joint, called the acromioclavicular joint, joins the shoulder blade to the collarbone or clavicle.
The shoulder joint is stabilised and moved by a group of four muscles and their tendons, collectively known as the rotator cuff. It is these muscles and the ball-and-socket shoulder joint that give the shoulder its large range of motion, and rotator cuff injuries are often to blame for shoulder pain or lack of mobility.
Many shoulder pains arise from an injury in sports or elsewhere. This is typically when the rotator cuff muscles become overused, leading to aches, tightness and loss of mobility. Tendons in the rotator cuff can also become inflamed due to overuse, known as rotator cuff tendinitis or shoulder impingement syndrome. In more extreme cases the muscles or tendons of the rotator cuff may become torn.
Rotator cuff bursitis can also occur, when the fluid-filled sac called the bursa – which protects the shoulder joint and keeps it moving smoothly – becomes inflamed. Tendons can also become trapped in the bony area of the shoulder, causing pain. It is also possible for pain in the shoulder to be due to musculoskeletal issues elsewhere in the body, e.g. in the arm or neck, known as referred or secondary shoulder pain.
Frozen shoulder or Adhesive Capitulitis is a condition caused by inflammation of the thick connective tissue around the shoulder joint. This leads to pain in moving the shoulder and a large reduction in range of motion. It mainly affects people over 40 and is often worse at night, so can lead to trouble sleeping. Frozen shoulder does not usually go away quickly and can last as long as three years without proper treatment.
Causes of frozen shoulder are not entirely clear, but often occurs as a result of lack of movement, for example if your arm has been in a cast. It can also occur as a result of other conditions such as diabetes.
There are three recognised stages to frozen shoulder. The initial “freezing” stage lasts up to 9 months, during which movement of the shoulder becomes more painful and the shoulder joint gradually stiffens, reducing range of motion. This is followed by a “frozen” stage lasting up to a year, in which there is less pain but the stiffness continues and mobility is very poor. Finally in the “thawing” stage, lasting up to two years, pain and stiffness gradually eases and the shoulder returns to normal.
Painkillers and heat packs can often help to ease the pain of frozen shoulder but may do little to get to the root of the symptoms. Doctors also sometimes prescribe steroid injections in an attempt to reduce the swelling. Osteopathy is an effective and non-invasive treatment which works directly with your muscles to reduce tightness, helping to reduce the severity and duration of frozen shoulder.
Our skilled and experienced practitioners take a person-centred approach and are dedicated to helping you back to full health, whatever your age, activity level or health goals. Our osteopaths are fully registered with the General Osteopathic Council and Institute of Osteopathy.
Osteopathy is an ideal treatment for most shoulder pains and frozen shoulder. Osteopaths use a range of physical therapy techniques to reduce pain, increase range of motion and expedite the healing process.
Osteopaths train for a minimum of 4 years and are registered with the General Osteopathic Council. Osteopathy is one of the 14 Allied Health Professions, and many osteopaths work in musculoskeletal departments of the NHS. Osteopaths are also Primary Care Practitioners, able to assess you and refer you to a more appropriate service or further tests and scans if osteopathy is not the right treatment for you. You can learn more about osteopathy on our osteopathy page.
We are a welcoming osteopathic clinic in Blackheath offering treatment for all the family, including a Blackheath back pain clinic and Blackheath sports injury clinic in addition to our treatments for shoulder pain and frozen shoulder. Booking is easy with our online system and you can normally see one of our osteopaths within 24-48 hours of booking your appointment.
Our experienced practitioners are here to help you and if you have any questions about our treatments please don’t hesitate to contact us.
The information on this page has been reviewed for accuracy by Nirosan Sriskandarajah MOst, osteopath and clinical director of Sphere Osteopathic Clinic.
Sphere Osteopathic Clinic
5 Delacourt Road
Blackheath
London SE3 8XA
