Treat the cause, not just the symptoms
Shoulder pain rarely stays in one place for a reason. It’s one of the most compensated joints in the body. We look at how your neck, upper back and shoulder work together, not just the spot that hurts, so your plan targets what’s actually causing the pain.
You don’t need a diagnosis to start. We take it from there with a thorough assessment and treatment in your first visit.
Common Shoulder Pain Cases We Treat:
Fit one of these, or none of them? Either way, that’s exactly why we have a guarantee. We make sure we can help before you commit to anything.
The shoulder has more range of motion than almost any other joint, which means it leans on the muscles around it more than most. When muscles in the neck, upper back and shoulder blade stop working correctly, the shoulder takes extra load every time you reach, lift or roll over in bed. That’s muscle dysfunction, and it’s what we look for.
Any of these can cause shoulder pain even when the shoulder itself isn’t the source. Stretches, rest and other care help many people. If the muscles don’t change, the pain often comes back.
We start with functional muscle testing to find which muscles are “switched off” or compensating, and build your plan around what we find, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Looking up shoulder bursitis treatment or rotator cuff treatment in Fort Collins? Here’s how we think about both.
Bursitis and rotator cuff pain are usually where the shoulder shows the strain, not why it’s there. When the muscles that steady your shoulder blade and rotate your arm stop working correctly, the rotator cuff and the tissue around the joint carry load they weren’t built to carry, and reaching overhead, putting on a coat or sleeping on that side can start to hurt.
Already have a diagnosis? Bring it along. You don’t need one to start. The first visit tests what’s actually happening in the muscles and treats what we find.
Every pain management plan at MRT starts with a consult with Mark Rise, our founder and clinical lead, with more than 25 years of experience. He tests which muscles are not working, treats what he finds in the same visit, and tells you straight whether we can help.
That first visit is the one our guarantee covers.
The MRT Guarantee: Feel at least 50% better after your first pain management visit, or it’s free.
Once we know what’s actually causing your pain, your plan can combine:
Not every shoulder pain case uses every tool above. Your plan is built around what’s found in your evaluation, not a standardized treatment plan. This is part of our full approach to pain management in Fort Collins.
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Fort Collins asks a lot of shoulders:
Sound like you? It’s incredibly common here, and it doesn’t have to be something you work around.
Our clinic is at 4532 McMurry Ave Suite 204, Fort Collins CO 80525. Call 970-449-9757. Clients also come to us from Loveland and Windsor.
Read our 100+ five-star Google reviews from clients across Northern Colorado. If your neck is the bigger problem, start with neck pain relief in Fort Collins.
Most shoulder pain we see traces back to muscles around the shoulder, neck and upper back that have stopped working correctly, with other muscles compensating. Where it hurts is rarely where it started. A root-cause evaluation with functional muscle testing is the fastest way to know what’s causing your specific pain.
Both are possible, and they’re not always easy to tell apart without an evaluation. Our functional muscle testing shows which muscles have stopped doing their job and which are compensating, so your plan can focus on what’s actually causing the pain rather than only where it hurts.
Yes. Bursitis is usually a sign the tissue around the shoulder is carrying load the muscles should be handling. We test the muscles around the shoulder and upper back, restore the ones that aren’t working, and can add SoftWave therapy or Class IV laser therapy to support healing in the sore area. You don’t need a diagnosis to book.
Reaching up and lying on your side both ask the muscles around the shoulder blade and upper back to steady the shoulder. When some of them have stopped working correctly, the shoulder takes the load instead, and those two positions are usually the first to hurt. We test the shoulder, neck and upper back together at your first visit. If the neck turns out to be the bigger problem, see neck pain relief in Fort Collins.
It depends on how long the pain has been building and what’s causing it. Most clients notice a difference after their first visit, with a fuller, client-specific plan typically unfolding over several visits. Every shoulder pain situation is different, and we walk through a clear plan recommendation at your first visit. The MRT Guarantee: Feel at least 50% better after your first pain management visit, or it’s free.
Not necessarily. MRT’s approach is non-invasive and focuses on finding and addressing the root cause first. If something needs a surgical evaluation, we’ll be upfront about that during your consultation. Some clients, even with structural damage, have found relief without surgery by correcting the muscular issues putting extra stress on the shoulder.
No referral needed. You can book a first appointment directly.
Shoulder pain doesn't have to be something you just work around.
Start with a real evaluation, and find out what's actually causing yours.
Serving Fort Collins and Northern Colorado at 4532 McMurry Ave, Suite 204.
Feel your best with Muscle Restoration Therapy.
Book a session today and experience the difference. Not sure if we treat your specific issue? Browse our conditions page or reach out below.
