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Everyday pain
Cancer-related pain
All pain guides Cancer guides written with your care team in mind
Learn about shoulder pain, explore gentle ways to ease tension, and know when to seek help.
A deep ache after training, a knot that will not quit, stiffness reaching overhead or behind your back. Shoulder pain shows up differently for everyone, and yours has its own pattern.
Gentle movement, position changes and short, careful release work can ease everyday shoulder tension. Percussion therapy is backed by published research for fast, temporary relief of muscle aches. It is a tool, not a cure.
Most shoulder pain eases on its own within a few weeks; if yours is not improving or stops your normal activities, see a GP. Shoulder pain after an accident or injury, a shoulder you cannot raise at all, or numbness or tingling down the arm: urgent GP appointment or 111.
Self-care steps drawn from NHS shoulder-pain guidance. They are not medical advice, and no single routine fits every shoulder: if your pain is undiagnosed, severe or getting worse, speak to a professional first.
Stay active. NHS guidance is to keep up your normal daily activities as far as the pain allows. Resting the arm completely for long periods tends to make a stiff shoulder worse, not better.
Keep moving gently. Gentle pendulum swings and stretches, little and often, beat staying still. The NHS publishes free shoulder exercises if you want a starting point.
Painkillers, if suitable. Paracetamol or anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen can help some people, but they are not suitable for everyone. Check with a pharmacist or GP if you are unsure.
If you use a massage gun. Use it on the muscles around the shoulder only, never directly on the joint or bone. Follow the manufacturer's instructions that come with your device, start gently, and stop if the pain gets worse.
Check first if anything else is going on. If you are pregnant, have a long-term health condition, or have had recent surgery, ask a GP or pharmacist before using a massage device.
Watch: how to ease tight shoulders with a massage gun (under 2 minutes)
Recovapro Lite
£89 £159
Small, light and easy to handle, with swappable heads that wipe clean.
We make massage guns, so weigh what we say accordingly. If your pain is not muscular, the honest advice is above: see someone.
Percussion therapy, for fast temporary relief of muscle aches and tension. That is the claim, and the whole claim.
Try it on your shoulders, not on our word.
Not improving after a few weeks: see a GP. After an accident, or with numbness or tingling down the arm: urgent help now, via 111 or 999 as the NHS advises.
We are developing RecovaSmart around the full story of pain: what it feels like, what it changes and what you have tried.
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Compare Lite, SE and Max side by side.
Swipe across to compare Lite, SE and Max.
| Lite | SE | Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amplitude | 12 mm | 14 mm | 16 mm |
| Motor | 40 W brushless | 60 W brushless | 90 W brushless |
| Speed modes | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Noise | 40 dB | 42 dB | 46 dB |
| Battery | 180+ minutes | 240+ minutes | 300+ minutes |
| Smart features | - | Bluetooth enabled, customisable speed range, Twist & Lock attachments, force meter | Bluetooth enabled, customisable speed range, Twist & Lock attachments, force meter |
| Attachments | 4 attachments
| 5 attachments
| 7 attachments
|
| Best for | Everyday carry, first massage gun, gentler settings | Fitness enthusiasts and athletes | Heavier training, deeper pressure, docking station |
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