Shoulder pain is keeping you from the activities you love — climbing, lifting, competing, or simply living without limits. At Urban Physical Therapy in Ithaca, we offer 60-minute, one-on-one sessions with a Doctor of Physical Therapy to help you recover fully, rebuild strength, and get back to 100%.
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You're Missing Out on the Activities You Love
Whether it's rock climbing, lifting weights, throwing a ball, or keeping up with your kids — shoulder pain quietly chips away at the things that make life worth living. Every week you wait is another week on the sidelines.
Generic PT Isn't Built for Active People
Traditional physical therapy focuses on getting you out of pain — not back to peak performance. If you want to return to sport, training, or a demanding job, cookie-cutter care that ignores your goals simply isn't enough.
Pain and Weakness Can Become Permanent
Rotator cuff injuries, shoulder impingement, and frozen shoulder worsen when left untreated or under-treated. Without targeted strength and mobility work, small problems become chronic conditions that limit you for years.
Urban Physical Therapy isn't your average clinic. We specialize in getting active adults and athletes back to 100% — not just pain-free. Every session is 60 minutes, one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy, with a plan built entirely around your body, your goals, and the activities you refuse to give up.At Urban Physical Therapy, we take a different approach. Tell us what activities matter most to you, and we'll design an individualized care plan to get you back doing them—and achieving goals you didn't think possible.
• 60-minute, one-on-one sessions with a Doctor of Physical Therapy — no aides, no assembly lines
• Fitness-forward rehab with access to 10,000+ sq ft of athletic space at Pallas Fitness
• No referral needed — New York is a direct access state, so you can start care today
"Rather than just treating the symptoms, he took the time to evaluate everything holistically and built a personalized plan tailored to my specific needs. My shoulder is now back to normal and I'm moving without limitations again."
Step 1: Root — Find the Real Cause
We start with a thorough one-on-one evaluation to identify the root cause of your shoulder pain — not just where it hurts, but why. Using movement screens, hands-on assessment, and a deep dive into your goals and history, we build a clear picture before treatment ever begins.
Step 2: Restore — Rebuild Mobility and Function
Using manual therapy, joint mobilization, soft tissue work, and targeted therapeutic exercise, we restore your shoulder's range of motion and begin rebuilding the strength and stability that protects it. Every session is progressive and purposeful.
Step 3: Reload — Return to Full Performance
Pain-free isn't the finish line — it's the starting point. We use sport-specific progressions, neuromuscular re-education, and strength training to reload your shoulder so you can return to your sport, your training, or your active lifestyle with confidence.
From acute injuries to chronic pain, our Ithaca physical therapy team has the expertise to treat the full spectrum of shoulder conditions. If shoulder pain near me has been your recent search, you're in the right place — we diagnose the root cause and build a plan to get you back to full strength.
"I came to Eric after a fall left me with a painful shoulder injury. From the first session, it was clear his approach was different from traditional PT. Rather than just treating the symptoms, he took the time to evaluate everything holistically and built a personalized plan tailored to my specific needs and goals. What really sets Eric apart is the strength training focus. We didn't just work on getting me out of pain—he made sure I rebuilt the strength and stability to stay that way."
"I highly recommend Urban PT. I started working with Eric after two injuries (ankle and shoulder) were preventing me from rock climbing, and I wanted to recover enough to do an outdoor climb 3 months later. I was able to meet that goal, and now, several months later, I am able to improve my climbing and get stronger again. This has been the best PT experience I've had because it's not been just about alleviating pain and getting back to what is 'normal' but getting to be able to continue to do what I want to do."
"A little less than a year ago I developed a very painful case of tennis elbow, in my case guitar elbow. I worked with Eric on strength and mobility conditioning, aimed at helping me get stronger and more flexible in ways that would support key parts of the body related to the elbow and provide general/overall strength building and mobility. Not only does my elbow feel and work great now, I'm very happy with my overall improved conditioning and my greater commitment to strength and mobility workouts going forward. 5 stars."
Doctorate-level clinicians. Athlete-informed care.
Founder and Doctor of Physical Therapy with certification as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Eric earned his DPT from Samuel Merritt University and specializes in orthopedic rehabilitation, return to sport, post-operative care, and manual therapy. A former collegiate baseball player, Eric understands the drive to compete and opened Urban PT in 2018 to offer personalized, hour-long appointments focused on getting patients back to 100%.
Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Miami with extensive experience in fitness and rehabilitation. Bekah's background includes rugby, Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and CrossFit. She previously owned a CrossFit affiliate and clinic before joining Urban PT. Her philosophy: movement is medicine, and training is healthcare. Specializes in therapeutic exercise, injury prevention, and movement-based rehabilitation for fitness athletes.
Do I need a referral to see a physical therapist in New York?
No — New York is a direct access state, which means you can schedule an appointment at Urban Physical Therapy without a physician referral. You can call us or book online and start your recovery right away.
How long are sessions, and will I work directly with a physical therapist?
Every session at Urban Physical Therapy is 60 minutes long, and you will work one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy for the entire visit. We do not use physical therapy aides or assistants — your time is always spent with your clinician.
What should I expect at my first shoulder pain appointment?
Your first session is a comprehensive evaluation. Your physical therapist will assess your shoulder mobility, strength, and movement patterns, review your injury history, and discuss your personal goals — whether that's returning to sport, getting back to the gym, or simply living without pain. From there, we build a personalized treatment plan using our Root, Restore, Reload framework.
