Do you accept insurance for shoulder pain physical therapy?

We operate on a cash-pay model, which means insurance companies don't dictate your plan of care. This allows us to spend a full hour with you every session and create a treatment plan based on what you actually need. We can provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement.

How is your approach different from other physical therapy clinics?

We're located in a state-of-the-art fitness facility where we use real equipment—barbells, kettlebells, dumbbells—to rebuild your strength and movement quality. Our physical therapists are coaches with doctorates who understand sports performance. We spend the entire hour one-on-one with you—no rotating between patients.

What should I expect during my first shoulder pain assessment?

Your first session includes an in-depth assessment of your shoulder mobility, strength, movement patterns, and function during your specific activities. We identify the root cause of your pain and create a customized treatment plan that may include manual therapy, dry needling, cupping, corrective exercises, and progressive loading. Every session is one-on-one for a full hour.

How long does it take to recover from shoulder pain?

Recovery time depends on the severity of your condition, how long you've had symptoms, and your goals. Some patients experience significant relief after just a few sessions, while chronic issues may need several weeks. We won't drag out your care unnecessarily and will give you tools to prevent the problem from returning.

Shoulder Pain Physical Therapy in South Windsor, CT

Your shoulder pain doesn't have to end your season, your workouts, or the activities you love. At The Athlete's Physical Therapist, we don't just manage your pain—we find the root cause, fix it, and make sure it doesn't come back. Whether you're a CrossFitter dealing with overhead movement issues, a runner with compensatory shoulder strain, or an active adult who wants to throw a football with your kids without wincing, we treat you like the athlete you are.

Shoulder Pain Strips You of Your Identity

You've tried rest. You've tried ice. Maybe you've even been to another PT where they handed you a theraband and sent you home. But your shoulder still hurts when you press, pull, or reach overhead. Every workout becomes a negotiation with pain, and you're starting to wonder if you'll ever get back to 100%.

Rotator Cuff Pain That Won't Quit: Overhead movements feel unstable. You've scaled back your workouts, but the pain persists. You're frustrated because you know your body can do more—if only your shoulder would cooperate.
Impingement & Limited Mobility: Reaching behind your back or lifting overhead creates sharp, pinching pain. You've lost range of motion, and everyday tasks that used to be automatic now remind you something's wrong.
Post-Injury Weakness & Instability: You thought your shoulder healed after that injury months ago, but now it feels weak, unstable, or like it might give out. You've lost confidence in movements you used to do without thinking.

We Don't Use Hot Packs—We Use Barbells, Kettlebells, and Real Movement

The Athlete's Physical Therapist isn't your typical doctor's office. We're located in a state-of-the-art fitness facility where you'll work with performance-focused physical therapists who are also coaches with doctorates. We spend the entire hour of your session with you—no rotating between patients, no 10 minutes with the PT and 45 minutes with a tech.

Advanced manual therapy, dry needling, and cupping: to release tissue restrictions and restore mobility.
Movement assessment and corrective exercise: using real weights and functional patterns—not therabands.
Performance-based rehab: designed to get you back to lifting, throwing, swimming, or whatever you love doing.
Insurance companies don't dictate your care here: - we create a plan based on what YOU need, not what gets approved

“Jules is fantastic! She is hands on for the entire session and she has absolutely individualized treatment to meet my needs. She asks relevant questions and really listens to my input. I have had 4 sessions and already am feeling SO much better. I highly recommend Athlete's Physical Therapy.”

Jennifer Malz

Here's How We Get You Back to Full Strength

1 Book Your Discovery Call: This totally free phone call is where you'll tell us what's going on, what you've already tried, and how your shoulder pain is affecting your training and your life. We'll determine if we're the right fit to help you.
2 Find Your Expert & Get Assessed: You'll be matched with one of our performance physical therapists based on your specific needs. Then you'll go through the most in-depth shoulder assessment you've ever had—we'll find the root cause, create a plan to eliminate your symptoms, and build a roadmap so this doesn't happen again.
3 Crush Your Goals: Working one-on-one with your performance therapist, you'll progress through functional exercises, manual therapy, and movement retraining. You'll get back to pressing, pulling, throwing, and lifting—feeling even better than before your injury.

Shoulder Conditions We Treat in South Windsor, CT

Whether you're dealing with an acute injury or chronic shoulder pain that's been holding you back for months, our team has the advanced training and sports-specific knowledge to help. We treat athletes and active adults with a performance-first approach—not cookie-cutter protocols.

Rotator cuff strains, tears, and tendinopathy
Shoulder impingement syndrome and bursitis
Labral tears and post-surgical rehabilitation
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) and mobility restrictions
AC joint injuries and instability
Throwing injuries for baseball, softball, and overhead athletes
CrossFit and weightlifting-related shoulder pain

What Our Patients Say About Shoulder Pain Treatment

“I went to see Jules in a last-minute, desperate attempt to find relief from knee and hamstring pain just one week before my first marathon. She did dry needling, cupping, and gave me helpful exercises to do at home, and I am convinced she's the reason I was able to finish the race. Jules explained everything so clearly, was kind and encouraging, and never made me feel silly for asking questions. She is knowledgeable, professional.”

Candace Sharp

“I've been working with Julianna for several weeks due to hip and shoulder pain. Her 1-on-1 approach is a welcome change from cookie cutter PT where time spent with a physical therapist is often minimal. She did an extensive evaluation to create a treatment plan that was just what I needed. I feel stronger and more confident after every visit with Julianna at The APT!”

Susan Salvo

Jennifer Malz

Meet Our Performance Physical Therapists

Our team doesn't just understand shoulder anatomy—we understand what it takes to perform. Every provider at The Athlete's Physical Therapist is both a licensed physical therapist and an active athlete or coach. We know what it's like to push your body, and we know how to get you back to doing it pain-free.

Genevieve Gyulavary, PT, DPT

Owner & Founder

Doctor of Physical Therapy, Certified Integrative Dry Needling Practitioner, CrossFit Level 2, USAW Level 1. Genevieve has been doing CrossFit for a decade and is also the owner of Timberhead CrossFit. She specializes in treating overhead athletes and believes everyone is an athlete—no matter what sport or activity you love.

Krista Clarke, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS

Staff Physical Therapist

Doctor of Physical Therapy, Orthopedic Certified Specialist, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Integrative Dry Needling Practitioner, POSE Running Instructor. Krista brings advanced orthopedic expertise and strength training knowledge to create performance-based rehab programs.

Julianna Lusk, PT, DPT

Staff Physical Therapist

Doctor of Physical Therapy, Certified Dry Needling Practitioner. Jules is known for her hands-on approach, individualized treatment plans, and ability to help patients feel stronger and more confident with every session.

Ready to Fix Your Shoulder Pain for Good?

We're located in South Windsor, CT—just minutes from Hartford, Manchester, and East Hartford. Our facility is inside a state-of-the-art fitness center where you'll have access to real equipment and a team that treats you like the athlete you are.

Email

Email: info@theathletespt.com

Phone

Phone: +1 (860) 785-8125

Office

Office: 1257 John Fitch Blvd Unit 1A-B
South Windsor, CT 06074

We're just 5 minutes from I-291 and conveniently located near Evergreen Walk. Whether you're coming from Hartford County, Tolland County, or anywhere in the Greater Hartford area, we're easy to reach.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder Pain Physical Therapy

Get answers to common questions about our approach, what to expect, and how we're different from traditional physical therapy clinics in South Windsor and Hartford County.

Do you accept insurance for shoulder pain physical therapy?: We operate on a cash-pay model, which means insurance companies don't dictate your plan of care. This allows us to spend a full hour with you every session and create a treatment plan based on what you actually need—not what gets approved by insurance. Many patients find that the quality of care and faster recovery time make this approach more cost-effective in the long run. We can provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
How is your approach different from other physical therapy clinics?: We're not your typical PT clinic. There are no hot packs, no rotating between three patients at once, and no cookie-cutter protocols. We're located in a state-of-the-art fitness facility where we use real equipment—barbells, kettlebells, dumbbells—to rebuild your strength and movement quality. Our physical therapists are coaches with doctorates who understand sports performance, not just pain management. We expect you to work hard, and we'll be right there with you the entire hour.
What should I expect during my first shoulder pain assessment?: Your first session includes the most in-depth assessment you've ever had. We'll evaluate your shoulder mobility, strength, movement patterns, and how your shoulder functions during the activities you care about. We'll identify the root cause of your pain—not just treat symptoms. Then we'll create a customized treatment plan that may include manual therapy, dry needling, cupping, corrective exercises, and progressive loading strategies. Every session is one-on-one for a full hour.
How long does it take to recover from shoulder pain?: Recovery time depends on the severity of your condition, how long you've had symptoms, and your goals. Some patients experience significant relief after just a few sessions, while others with chronic or complex shoulder issues may need several weeks of treatment. What we can promise is this: we won't drag out your care unnecessarily, and we'll give you the tools to prevent the problem from coming back. Our goal is to get you back to full performance—not just “good enough.”

Still have questions?

We're here to help. Book a free discovery call and we'll answer any questions you have about our approach, whether we're the right fit for your shoulder pain, and what you can expect from treatment.