19/02/2026
Shoulder assessment isn’t about finding something “out of place”
It’s about understanding irritability, load tolerance and task demand.
From a physio perspective we’re asking:
• What movements reproduce symptoms?
• At what load and speed?
• How irritable is it and how quickly does it settle?
• What does strength look like through range?
• What does your sport or training actually require?
A painful shoulder isn’t automatically unstable, impinged or weak. It might simply be underprepared for the demands placed on it.
Assessment guides dosage.
Rehab builds capacity.
Return to performance means matching the demands, not just settling pain.
