Quick Summary
Pain when raising your arm is often called shoulder impingement or subacromial pain. The name does not mean a bone is necessarily trapping or damaging a tendon. We assess your shoulder and help you find a manageable starting point for movement, strengthening and the activities you want to return to.
What is Shoulder Impingement / Subacromial Pain?
Subacromial pain describes symptoms around the rotator cuff tendons and nearby bursa. Several tissues and factors may contribute, and it is often more useful to assess movement and load tolerance than to identify one pinched structure. Similar symptoms can also come from a stiff shoulder, a tear or neck-related pain.
Your assessment at J&J Therapy looks at how symptoms affect your day, relevant health history, movement and strength. We explain the findings, agree priorities with you and advise when medical review or imaging would change your care.
Image: NIAMS / Angelito7 / Jmarchn · Public domain. Adapted.
Do You Experience These Symptoms?
- Pain during some overhead or sideways reaching movements.
- Discomfort with lifting, dressing or lying on the shoulder.
- Reduced confidence or endurance when using the arm.
An assessment helps guide your next step, based on your symptoms, health and goals.
Why can it develop?
A change in overhead work, sport or lifting demand can be relevant, along with tendon changes and recovery. Shoulder movement varies naturally; the problem should not be reduced to a single “bad” posture or an assumption that the joint needs more space.
Your treatment plan at J&J Therapy
Hands-On Manual Therapy
Joint mobilisation or soft tissue care may help symptoms enough to make exercise and daily tasks easier. We judge its value by your response rather than claim to create permanent space under the acromion.
Is Shockwave Suitable?
Shockwave is not a routine recommendation for non-calcific rotator cuff-related subacromial pain. Rehabilitation and appropriate load management remain the starting point; a different diagnosis may need another pathway.
Targeted Exercise Programme
We gradually load the shoulder and surrounding muscles, adapting exercises and task demands to your tolerance. The aim is a useful increase in strength, movement and confidence rather than avoiding overhead activity indefinitely.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Help
While most symptoms are not serious, urgent medical attention is required if you experience any of the following:
- Seek urgent GP advice or contact NHS 111 for sudden severe pain, inability to move the arm, marked swelling, persistent numbness or a hot shoulder with fever.
- After an injury, a changed shoulder shape or sudden loss of strength needs urgent assessment. Do not try to put a dislocated shoulder back yourself.
- Call 999 for shoulder or arm pain with chest pressure, breathlessness, sweating or feeling faint.
Your questions answered
Should I stop raising my arm?
Complete avoidance can reduce confidence and capacity. We help you find tolerable movements and build gradually; severe pain, trauma or sudden weakness needs assessment before exercise.
Is surgery needed to make more space?
Surgery is not the automatic next step. Many people are managed with advice and exercise. Persistent symptoms should prompt reassessment of the diagnosis, rehabilitation and medical options.
Which appointment should I book?
Choose a Physiotherapy Initial Assessment to understand this problem and plan your rehabilitation. Soft Tissue Therapy may be considered for associated muscle tension when appropriate; it does not replace assessment of an injury, tendon problem or joint restriction.
Book an appointment at J&J Therapy, ground floor, CI Tower, New Malden. Need help choosing? Call our reception team on 07935 869938.
Sources and further reading
This page is for general information only and does not replace professional medical advice.
Information updated 15 October 2026. General information only; this page does not diagnose your symptoms or replace an individual assessment. Treatment depends on your health, examination and preferences. Use the urgent-care advice above when needed.