Bergen County, NJ · No referral needed
Shoulder pain
Physical therapy in Bergen County, NJ. You can start without a doctor's referral.
Shoulder pain can make reaching, lifting, getting dressed and sleeping harder. It may start with an injury, or come on slowly with no clear reason.
Some insurance plans and Medicare still ask for a doctor's note. We check yours before your first visit.
What we often see
- Rotator cuff problems, including irritated or torn tendons
- Frozen shoulder (stiffness that builds over months)
- Pain reaching overhead or behind your back
- Pain lying on that side at night
- Rehab after a shoulder dislocation or surgery
Your first visit
We ask how it started and which movements hurt, then check how far and how strongly your shoulder moves, how your shoulder blade and neck play a part, and agree on a plan with you.
When to see a doctor first
If any of these apply, please get medical care before booking. A physical therapist will also refer you on if something needs a doctor.
- Shoulder or arm pain with chest pain, shortness of breath or sweating: call 911.
- The shoulder looks out of place after a fall, or you can't lift your arm at all after an injury.
- Pain with a fever, or a hot, swollen joint.
Answers
Do you need a doctor's referral first? Not in New Jersey.
Do I need an MRI before physical therapy for my shoulder?
Usually not. Many shoulder problems are first treated with physical therapy, and the evaluation shows whether a scan or a doctor's visit is needed first.
What is frozen shoulder?
A condition where the shoulder slowly becomes stiff and painful, often over months. It's more common between the ages of 40 and 60 and in people with diabetes. Physical therapy works on keeping, and slowly regaining, movement.
Book your first shoulder evaluation
Three quick steps. About a minute. Some insurance plans and Medicare still ask for a doctor's note. We check yours before your first visit.
Other things we treat
This page explains how physical therapy works. It isn't a diagnosis or medical advice.