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Physiotherapy · UK

Shoulder physiotherapy - the shoulder, put back together.

Consultant-led shoulder rehab for rotator-cuff, frozen shoulder, impingement, instability and post-operative recovery. MSK-specialist physiotherapists with ultrasound and injections on the same site.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private shoulder physiotherapy costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our vetted UK partners.

In short

A six-session shoulder programme with a named MSK physiotherapist: £620–£1,050, usually across 8–12 weeks.

Procedure Indicative range
Initial assessment (60 min) £140–£195
Follow-up physiotherapy session (45 min) £90–£140
Package of six shoulder sessions £620–£1,050
Diagnostic shoulder ultrasound £280–£450
Ultrasound-guided subacromial steroid injection £350–£650
Hydrodilatation for frozen shoulder £500–£850
Consultant shoulder-surgeon opinion £250–£450

Prices vary by clinic, by the physiotherapist's seniority, by whether imaging or an injection is added, and by session length.

The problem

The right diagnosis, the right hands, and a plan that survives real life.

Shoulder pain is where general physio quietly under-delivers - cuff tears missed, frozen shoulder mistaken for impingement, home programmes no one can follow.

  • Is it actually the cuff?

    Frozen shoulder, cervical referral and AC-joint pathology all masquerade as cuff pain. We examine and, if needed, image before treating.

  • Load the tendon properly

    Cuff tendons need progressive load, not rest. We build strength through range - not passive stretching in a cubicle.

  • A programme you will actually do

    Ten-minute sessions, three times a week - not a 40-exercise PDF. Progressions checked in person every two to three weeks.

When it helps

When shoulder physiotherapy is the right step.

The presentations we see most, plus the one red flag that means urgent medical review rather than more rehab.

  • Rotator-cuff tendinopathy

    Painful arc, weakness with elevation, night pain on that side - the commonest cause we see.

  • Subacromial impingement

    Catching pain reaching overhead, worse with repetitive work - responds well to loaded rehab.

  • Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)

    Global stiffness, loss of external rotation, months of night pain - different treatment from cuff pain.

  • Full-thickness cuff tear

    Sudden weakness after a fall, or a chronic tear seen on scan - some are for rehab, some for surgery.

  • Shoulder instability

    Recurrent subluxations or dislocations, usually anterior - needs a proprioceptive rehab pathway.

  • AC-joint pain

    Point tenderness at the top of the shoulder, painful across-body movement - often confused for cuff.

  • Post-operative shoulder rehab

    After cuff repair, subacromial decompression, stabilisation or replacement - protocol-led, surgeon-linked rehab.

  • Red flag: night pain plus weight loss

    Unrelenting rest pain, systemic symptoms or a lump warrants urgent imaging and a consultant - not a physio-only pathway.

Options

Approach depends on the diagnosis.

What each approach involves - from progressive loading to ultrasound-guided injection and post-operative protocols.

  • Progressive loading for cuff tendinopathy

    Isometrics, then heavy slow resistance and full-range strength. Evidence-based - not passive stretching or unloaded band work.

  • Capsular mobilisation for frozen shoulder

    Graded joint mobilisation, sleeper stretch, thoracic work - paired with hydrodilatation where stiffness is severe.

  • Ultrasound-guided injection

    Steroid to subacromial bursa or AC joint - reserved for when pain blocks meaningful rehab, and always followed by exercise.

  • Hydrodilatation

    For frozen shoulder - a saline-steroid distension of the glenohumeral joint. Immediate stiffness relief, then rehab window.

  • Post-op cuff repair rehab

    Sling weeks 0–6, passive range 0–6, active-assisted 6–12, loaded strengthening from 12 weeks - surgeon-linked protocol.

  • Post-op subacromial decompression

    Range of motion from day 1, progressive strengthening from week 2–4, return to overhead work by 6–8 weeks.

  • Instability rehab

    Rotator-cuff and scapular strength, proprioception, sport-specific loading. Surgery (Latarjet, Bankart) if apprehension persists.

  • Return-to-sport testing

    Strength symmetry, functional tests, throwing-specific programmes for tennis, cricket, swim and gym athletes.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Shoulder physiotherapy is safe and effective. What matters is the diagnosis, the progression, and honesty about how long each pathology takes.

  • Progressive load, not passive stretching

    Cuff tendons respond to graded strength through range. Passive stretching alone rarely fixes true tendinopathy.

  • Injections have a place - and a limit

    Ultrasound-guided steroid can unlock a stalled rehab, but repeated injections weaken tendon. We use it as a bridge.

  • Frozen shoulder takes months

    Adhesive capsulitis has three phases - usually 12–18 months. Hydrodilatation shortens the pain phase; nothing shortens the whole course.

  • Not all cuff tears need surgery

    Many partial and even some full-thickness tears do well with rehab, especially in older adults. Younger, active patients with acute tears usually do better with early repair.

  • Watch for cervical referral

    Neck pathology can mimic shoulder pain. If the neck reproduces the pain, or arm neurology is present, we scan and refer accordingly.

  • Post-op protocols are protocol-led

    Cuff repair rehab is not physio choice - it is the operating surgeon's protocol, and we follow it to the day.

  • Load management, not rest

    Complete rest deconditions the shoulder. We modify load, we do not remove it.

  • Return-to-sport is measured

    Strength symmetry, functional tests and sport-specific loading - not a calendar date.

  • Red flags after treatment

    New neurology, unexplained weight loss, a lump, night sweats or unrelenting rest pain need same-week medical review.

Reading your notes

Your notes in four parts. Read the last one first.

The letter you receive from the consultant keeps to the same shape.

  1. 01 Assessment

    History, examination, working diagnosis

    What you told us, what the tests showed, the pathology you probably have - and what still needs to be excluded.

  2. 02 Imaging

    Findings on ultrasound or MRI

    What the scan showed, in plain English - cuff integrity, bursal thickness, AC-joint changes, capsular findings.

  3. 03 Plan

    Rehab plan and adjuncts

    Sessions, progressions, any injection or hydrodilatation, and the milestones we expect at 6, 12 and 18 weeks.

  4. 04 Discharge

    What good looks like - and when to come back

    Read this first: the maintenance programme, what warrants a call, and any onward referrals we suggest.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Shoulder physiotherapy is usually covered as musculoskeletal outpatient care where medically indicated.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about shoulder physiotherapy.

Quick answers on session count, imaging, injections, hydrodilatation, cost and return to sport.

  • How many sessions will I need?

    Most shoulder problems settle over 6–10 sessions across 8–12 weeks. Frozen shoulder and post-operative cases usually run longer - 12–20 sessions over 4–9 months - because the biology is slower, not because rehab is harder.

  • Do I need a scan before starting?

    Not always. Straightforward tendinopathy or impingement is a clinical diagnosis. We image when the story does not fit, when weakness suggests a tear, when we suspect labral pathology or instability, or when 6–8 weeks of good rehab has not moved the needle.

  • Can I have a steroid injection?

    Yes - ultrasound-guided steroid to the subacromial bursa or AC joint is available the same week where it will unlock rehab. It is not a stand-alone treatment. For frozen shoulder we prefer hydrodilatation.

  • What is hydrodilatation?

    A saline-and-steroid distension of the shoulder joint under ultrasound. It stretches the tight capsule of a frozen shoulder from the inside, giving a rapid pain and range-of-motion window for rehab to take hold.

  • Does my rotator-cuff tear need surgery?

    Not always. Older patients, chronic tears and partial-thickness tears often do very well with progressive rehab. Younger patients with acute traumatic tears usually do better with early repair. We give you both the rehab and the surgical view before you decide.

  • How much does private shoulder physiotherapy cost in the UK?

    Roughly £140–£195 for the initial assessment, £90–£140 per follow-up, £620–£1,050 for a six-session package. Ultrasound is £280–£450, injections £350–£650, hydrodilatation £500–£850.

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