Shoulder Reliever vs. Physical Therapy: Which Is Right for You?

By Michael Carroll, M.D., family physician and inventor of the Shoulder Reliever

The short answer

Physical therapy and the Shoulder Reliever both work by strengthening the deep rotator cuff muscles, and for many people they work best together. Physical therapy adds a hands-on evaluation and a program tailored to you, and insurance often helps pay for it. The Shoulder Reliever adds something physical therapy usually does not cover, protecting the shoulder while you sleep, and it is a five-minute daily routine at home for a one-time cost of $189.99. For common rotator cuff pain, many people start with the Shoulder Reliever, and anyone with an injury, real weakness or a complicated shoulder should see a doctor or physical therapist.

Side by side

	Shoulder Reliever	Physical therapy
Cost	$189.99, one time. HSA/FSA eligible.	About $50 to $150 per visit, often partly covered by insurance after copays or deductibles.
Time	About 5 minutes a day at home, plus the sleeve at night.	Usually 1 to 3 visits a week for several weeks, plus home exercises and travel time.
Program length	40 days and 40 nights.	Often 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the problem.
Daytime strengthening	Yes: a guided routine with four progressively heavier balls.	Yes: exercises chosen and adjusted by the therapist.
Nighttime protection	Yes: a support sleeve keeps the arm at your side while you sleep.	Usually limited to sleep-position advice.
Personal evaluation	No. Not a substitute for a diagnosis.	Yes: a trained professional examines your shoulder and adjusts as you go.
Hands-on treatment	No.	Yes, when needed.
Lifetime treatment	Yes: the kit is yours to keep and use again any time.	Often needs repeat sessions if pain comes back.
Guarantee	60-day money-back guarantee.	None.

What they have in common

Most rotator cuff pain comes from an imbalance: the large muscles around the shoulder are strong, and the small, deep rotator cuff muscles that hold the arm bone in its socket are not. Good physical therapy and the Shoulder Reliever both target those deep muscles with controlled, repeated exercise. When they get stronger, they hold the arm bone in a better position, the tendons stop getting pinched, and the pain settles.

Where physical therapy is the better choice

After surgery or a serious injury, when recovery needs to be supervised step by step
Frozen shoulder, where hands-on stretching and range-of-motion work matter most
When the cause is unclear, or the pain may be coming from the neck
When you need hands-on care, or someone to watch your form and adjust the plan
When insurance covers most of the cost and you can make the visits

Where the Shoulder Reliever fits best

Night pain. Physical therapy happens during the day. The nighttime sleeve protects the shoulder for the hours you are asleep, when many people hurt the most. In a 2006 randomized trial, all 11 patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy who wore the nighttime brace for 28 days improved, compared with about half of patients who did not, and both groups were doing physical therapy. Read the research.
Doing it at home. No appointments or travel, which helps people stick with it.
Cost. One payment, instead of copays for each visit.
After physical therapy ends. Many people use it to keep the shoulder strong, or to calm a flare-up quickly.

Using them together

You do not have to choose. Many of our customers use the Shoulder Reliever alongside physical therapy, and some have shown it to their therapist, who added it to their program. If you are already in physical therapy, bring it to your next visit and ask your therapist how it fits your plan.

When to see a doctor first

Your pain started with a fall or an injury, especially if you cannot lift your arm
The arm is getting weaker, not just sore
You have numbness or tingling down the arm, fever, or a red, hot, swollen shoulder
Pain is not improving after several weeks

Common questions

Can the Shoulder Reliever replace physical therapy?

For many people with common rotator cuff pain, it does the same core job at home: strengthening the deep rotator cuff muscles, plus protecting the shoulder at night. It does not replace a professional evaluation, and it is not the right choice after surgery or for complicated injuries.

Can I use it while I am in physical therapy?

Yes, and many people do. Let your therapist know so they can fit it into your program.

Is it covered by insurance?

It is HSA/FSA eligible, so you can pay for it with pre-tax health savings dollars.

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Individual results vary, and the Shoulder Reliever is not a substitute for medical care. Talk with your doctor about what is right for your shoulder.