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Fort Collins, CO/Chiropractic + Rehab Coaching/Accepting New Patients
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Condition

Shoulder Impingement Treatment in Fort Collins, CO

Pain at the front or side of the shoulder when you press, reach overhead or sleep on that side. Usually a capacity and control problem, not a structural one — which is why it responds to the right loading rather than rest.

The short answer

Shoulder impingement is pain caused by the rotator cuff tendons being compressed under the acromion during overhead motion. At Tier 1 Performance & Rehab in Fort Collins we treat it with hands-on soft tissue and joint work to restore range, then progressive loading of the cuff and scapular muscles so the shoulder tolerates pressing and overhead work again. Most active adults train through a modified version of their program the entire time.

Serving Fort Collins, Loveland, Timnath, Windsor and Wellington, CO.

01 — What it is

Shoulder impingement, and how to tell that's what you have

Signs you're dealing with this

  • —A pinch in the front or outside of the shoulder between 60 and 120 degrees of raising the arm
  • —Pain on overhead press, bench, pull-ups or reaching into the back seat
  • —Aching at night, especially lying on the affected side
  • —Weakness or a dead-arm feeling on the last reps of a set
  • —Clicking or catching as the arm comes down

What's actually causing it

  • —Limited overhead range at the shoulder or thoracic spine, so the arm borrows motion it does not have
  • —A rotator cuff that lacks the strength to control the humeral head under load
  • —Scapular mechanics that stop moving under fatigue late in a session
  • —Training volume that jumped faster than tissue tolerance — new program, new sport, new gym
Photo: Dr. Alec assessing or treating Shoulder impingement — drop real clinic photo here
“Dr. Alec did a great job of identifying where I was in the healing process and matching the right exercises for my rehab… he explains why he is making the choices he is, and how he expects your body to feel along the way.”
Brad Tietel

02 — Our approach

How we treat Shoulder impingement at Tier 1

  1. Assess, don't guess

    We measure active and passive shoulder range, cuff strength, scapular control and how your overhead position changes under load, and check the neck and thoracic spine as contributors.

  2. Get the shoulder moving

    Manual therapy, soft tissue work and joint mobilisation to take the irritation down and restore the range the shoulder is missing.

  3. Load the cuff

    Progressive isometrics into full-range strength for the rotator cuff, scapular stabilisers and thoracic extensors — dosed so it does not flare.

  4. Rebuild your lifts

    We regress pressing and overhead work to a version you can do pain free, then rebuild it week by week until you are back to full loading.

What to expect, week by week

  • Weeks 1–3

    Pain down, range improving, training modified rather than stopped.

  • Weeks 4–10

    Loaded cuff and scapular strength, pressing patterns reintroduced with clear rules.

  • Weeks 10–16

    Full overhead loading rebuilt, then a maintenance plan so it does not return.

Programs here run 8 to 16 weeks depending on how long the problem has been going on and the load you need to return to. These are typical ranges for active adults, not a guarantee — you get specific goals and a target program length after your first assessment.

03 — FAQ

Shoulder impingement: common questions

Written as direct answers so Google and AI assistants can quote them.

How long does shoulder impingement take to heal?+

Most active adults feel meaningfully better inside two to three weeks, with full overhead pressing rebuilt across an eight to sixteen week program depending on how long it has been going on and how much load you need to get back to.

Should I stop lifting with shoulder impingement?+

Rarely. Complete rest often makes it worse because the tendon loses capacity. We modify range, grip and load so you keep training while the shoulder recovers.

Do I need an MRI for shoulder impingement?+

Usually not. Imaging is indicated when there is trauma, significant weakness or no response to a proper course of care — if that is the case we coordinate the referral.

Can a chiropractor treat shoulder impingement?+

Yes. A chiropractor trained in rehab treats the shoulder with manual therapy and progressive exercise, which is the approach supported by current evidence for impingement-type shoulder pain.

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Get a straight answer about your Shoulder impingement

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