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Shoulder Pain · Los Angeles

Fix Your Shoulder.
Keep Your Sport.

Shoulder injuries don't have to end your training. We specialize in overhead mechanics and return-to-performance timelines — for CrossFitters, lifters, swimmers, and overhead athletes across Los Angeles.

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Why Shoulders Fail Athletes

The Shoulder Is Complex. Most PT Treats It Like It Isn't.

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body — which makes it the most prone to instability and injury when any part of the chain is off. Most PT approaches treat just the symptom: rotator cuff strengthening exercises, some ice, and "don't do the thing that hurts."

We work differently. We assess the full chain — thoracic mobility, scapular control, rotator cuff activation, and how your shoulder moves under load. Then we build a program that fixes what's actually broken and rebuilds your overhead mechanics from the ground up.

Whether you're dealing with a labral tear, impingement, rotator cuff strain, or just a shoulder that clicks and aches under heavy weight — we've seen it and we know how to fix it.

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Common Shoulder Conditions We Treat
Rotator cuff strain/tear · Labral tear (SLAP) · Shoulder impingement · AC joint injury · Biceps tendinopathy · Frozen shoulder · Post-surgical rehab
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Who We See
CrossFitters · Olympic weightlifters · Swimmers · Surfers · Baseball/softball athletes · Anyone who presses, pulls, or reaches overhead
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Our Approach
Full movement assessment → manual therapy (Graston, dry needling) → targeted strength → return to sport with load management
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Where We Are
711 Hampton Drive, Venice CA 90291 — serving athletes from West LA, Santa Monica, Culver City, and across Los Angeles
Free Exercise Library

Shoulder Exercises from Our DPTs

Use these to supplement your rehab — or start here while you wait for your first appointment. A personalized program goes much further, but these are a solid starting point.

Soft Tissue Work — Start Here
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Soft Tissue
Foam Roll — Lats & T-Spine

2–3 min per side. Essential before any overhead work or upper body training.

Mobility — Open Up the Joint
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Mobility
Keg Drill — Overhead Flexibility

Improves upper extremity and T-spine flexibility. Start hands wide, work in. 5 sec on, 5 sec off for 2–3 min.

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Mobility
Banded Lat Stretch

Isolates lats and lateral musculature — tight from pull-ups. PNF: 5 sec on, 5 sec off for 1 min.

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Mobility
T-Spine Rotation

Activates rotational muscles and engages scapular musculature that may be weak. 2×10 reps.

Strength & Control — Build Stability
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Strength
Y-T-W — Postural Stability

Best exercise for overhead stability. Goal: 2×20 with 2.5 lb per hand without touching the ground.

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Strength
Wall Slides

Keep low back, wrists, and elbows against wall. Deceptively challenging. Diagnostic and therapeutic.

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Strength
Banded External Rotation Holds

Rotator cuff activation and stability. Up to 2 min with 10 sec holds and 2 sec rest.

See All Shoulder Exercises →
Results

Shoulder Patients. Real Outcomes.

★★★★★

"Blessed that I can sleep again, move again, CrossFit again, and even compete again. After months with a protruding spinal disc affecting my shoulder — virtually asymptomatic now."

Jay Besina
CrossFit Athlete · Venice, CA
🏋️ Back to overhead lifting
★★★★★

"Steve has helped me achieve a level of fitness that has greatly improved my surfing — stronger paddling, less fatigue. My shoulder now feels better than it did before the injury."

Bruna Schmitz
Pro Surfer · Santa Monica, CA
🏄 Back to pro performance
★★★★★

"As a personal trainer, I couldn't have a shoulder that wasn't 100%. Dan pinpointed my weaknesses and built a program around my actual movement patterns. Back to full strength."

Sandra Jersby
Personal Trainer · Venice, CA
💪 Full strength restored
Common Questions

Shoulder Pain FAQ

Do I need an MRI before I come in?
No. We perform a full clinical assessment on your first visit that tells us what we need to know. If imaging would change the treatment plan, we'll refer you for it — but most shoulder conditions can be diagnosed and treated without it.
Can I keep training while I'm in PT?
Usually yes. We'll identify what's safe to continue, what to modify, and what to temporarily avoid. Keeping you active is part of the plan — not a concession to it.
How long does shoulder recovery take?
It depends on the injury. Impingement and minor rotator cuff strains typically respond in 4–8 weeks. Labral tears and post-surgical cases can take 3–6 months. We'll give you a realistic timeline at your first assessment.
Do you accept insurance?
We're out-of-network, which lets us spend a full 45 minutes 1-on-1 with you instead of the rushed visits most in-network clinics allow. Many plans reimburse 40–80% of out-of-network PT — we provide an itemized superbill, and we're happy to help you check your benefits before your first session.
What's the difference between you and a regular PT clinic?
Every session is 1-on-1 with a Doctor of Physical Therapy — not a tech or an aide. We specialize in athletes, which means your program is built around your sport and your load, not generic shoulder rehab protocols.
Also treating
🔙 Back Pain 🦵 Knee Pain 🦶 Foot & Ankle 🦴 Hip Pain
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No Commitment

Ready to Fix Your Shoulder
for Good?

Book an evaluation with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. We'll pinpoint what's actually going on and build a plan to fix it.

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