 Shoulder pain at night is one of the most common complaints we hear in physical therapy. You may feel relatively comfortable during the day, only to have pain flare up when you lie down, roll onto that side, or reach for a different sleeping position.
Common causes include rotator cuff irritation, shoulder impingement, stiffness, arthritis, or irritation of the tissues around the shoulder joint. Sleeping directly on the painful shoulder can also compress sensitive structures and make symptoms worse. A Few Things That May Help Change your sleeping position. Try sleeping on your back or on the opposite side with a pillow supporting the painful arm. Keeping the arm slightly away from your body can sometimes reduce pressure on the shoulder. Cross-body stretch. Bring the affected arm gently across your chest and use your opposite arm to pull it closer. You should feel a stretch in the back of the shoulder. Hold for about 20–30 seconds without forcing it. Sleeper stretch. Lie on the affected side with your shoulder and elbow bent to about 90 degrees. Using the opposite hand, gently rotate the forearm toward the bed until you feel a mild stretch in the back of the shoulder. This stretch should be gentle—do not push into pain. Keep the shoulder moving. Avoiding all shoulder movement can sometimes make stiffness worse. Gentle, comfortable movement throughout the day is usually better than completely resting the arm. When Should You Get It Checked? If shoulder pain is consistently waking you up, getting progressively worse, limiting your ability to reach or lift, or not improving after a couple of weeks, it may be worth having it evaluated. A physical therapist can determine whether the problem is primarily coming from stiffness, weakness, the rotator cuff, or another structure—and help you address the underlying cause rather than just finding a better sleeping position.
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 Grip strength isn't just about having a firm handshake.
In recent years, hand grip strength has become one of the simplest and most powerful measures of overall health and physical function. A quick squeeze on a hand dynamometer can provide valuable information about muscle strength, recovery, injury, and even long-term health. At Brentwood Rehab & Performance Physical Therapy, we recently added a hand dynamometer (we've nicknamed him Gary) to help us objectively measure grip strength and track progress throughout rehabilitation. Why do physical therapists measure grip strength? Grip strength provides objective data that can help us:
Grip strength is linked to overall health One of the most fascinating discoveries in rehabilitation research is that grip strength reflects much more than hand function. Large studies have found that individuals with lower grip strength tend to have:
Why is grip strength so important? Your grip depends on much more than your hand muscles. It requires healthy:
Some researchers have even suggested that grip strength deserves consideration as another "vital sign" alongside blood pressure, heart rate, and body weight. Can you improve your grip strength? Absolutely. The good news is that grip strength responds well to training and rehabilitation. Depending on your goals, treatment may include:
When should grip strength be tested? Grip strength testing can be valuable if you have:
The Bottom Line Grip strength is much more than a measure of how hard you can squeeze. It's a simple, reliable indicator of upper extremity function and an increasingly recognized marker of overall health. Whether you're recovering from an injury, returning to sports, or simply wanting to stay active as you age, measuring grip strength gives us another valuable tool to help you reach your goals. Think your grip isn't what it used to be? Ask us about a quick grip strength assessment during your next visit.  A total knee replacement can significantly reduce pain and improve quality of life, but the surgery is only the first step. Your recovery depends heavily on what happens in the weeks and months afterward. Here are five common mistakes that can slow progress and prevent patients from getting the best possible outcome.
The Bottom Line Most patients can achieve excellent outcomes after a total knee replacement, but avoiding these common mistakes can make recovery smoother and more successful. At Brentwood Rehab & Performance Physical Therapy, our team works closely with patients following joint replacement surgery to restore mobility, improve strength, reduce pain, and help them return to the activities they enjoy.  Year-round sports are becoming the norm for many young athletes.
Travel teams, showcases, private lessons, and overlapping seasons have dramatically increased the amount of repetitive stress placed on growing bodies. At San Ramon Valley Physical Therapy and Brentwood Rehab & Performance Physical Therapy, we’re seeing more:
What the Research Says A position statement from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine reported that early sports specialization may increase the risk of:
Another review from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine found that athletes who specialize early are more than twice as likely to experience overuse injuries compared to multi-sport athletes. Research published in Pediatrics reported that overuse injuries account for nearly 50% of sports injuries in youth athletes. Why This Happens Young athletes are still developing:
Baseball pitchers throwing year-round, soccer players constantly cutting, and basketball athletes jumping year-round all place repetitive stress on the same tissues over and over again. Recovery matters. In fact, research suggests injury risk increases significantly when weekly training hours exceed the athlete’s age. Multi-Sport Athletes Often Stay Healthier Studies continue to show that multi-sport athletes often demonstrate:
Different sports challenge the body differently, helping reduce repetitive overload. Strength Training Matters Too Proper strength and conditioning can help reduce injury risk in youth athletes. Focus areas often include:
The goal is to build resilient athletes who can tolerate the demands of sport long-term. Final Thoughts Youth sports can be incredibly positive for kids. But more training is not always better training. The research continues to support:
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Brentwood Rehab & Performance Physical Therapy proudly serves Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch, Discovery Bay, and Byron, CA with expert physical therapy care. © COPYRIGHT 2026 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |
