Simple Solutions for Shoulder Pain Relief
Shoulder pain can present itself in a number of ways. You may feel it when you’re reaching to the top shelf to grab a glass or when you can’t seem to get comfortable at night, no matter how you try to adjust your sleeping position. Shoulder pain may occur as a result of an injury, leaving you with an immobile shoulder. The number of reasons why you may be experiencing shoulder pain is vast. Shoulder pain may range from a temporary discomfort of a pulled muscle to the friction of arthritis. Fortunately, our physical therapy practice is equipped with the necessary methods and modalities for treating your shoulder pain.
Because of the shoulder’s many complexities, it is capable of achieving a large number of physical feats; however, it is also susceptible to an increased risk of pain and discomfort. There is a lot that goes on in the physical makeup of the shoulder, and if something goes wrong with its mechanical interplay, pain can result. Shoulder pain may range from a dull ache to shooting pain, depending on how the pain developed. It is also important to note that shoulder pain may originate from surrounding structures such as the neck, elbow or wrist. We always screen above and below the joint to find the true source of your pain.
Contact Athletic Advantage Physical Therapy for shoulder pain relief:
The simple solution for shoulder pain relief is physical therapy. It is a comfortable, safe, and natural way to alleviate your shoulder pain. In many cases, physical therapy treatments have even been able to eliminate the need for harmful pain-management drugs or surgical intervention. Our physical therapists are movement experts, experienced in treating a number of conditions that cause shoulder pain. At Athletic Advantage Physical Therapy, you may find improvement and relief after just a few short physical therapy sessions.
Our physical therapists are trained to pinpoint the cause of your pain through a variety of diagnostic techniques. Range of motion tests may also be conducted in order to discover which of your soft tissues are contributing to your pain.
Once the root of your shoulder pain has been determined, your physical therapist will design a treatment plan based on your individual needs. This will typically include gentle exercises, which have proven to ease the pain of osteoarthritis and reduce the stiffness of frozen shoulder. They may also include more specialized techniques, such as dry needling, exercise and strengthening programs to rehabilitate injured muscles or help stabilize a shoulder that is prone to dislocation.
"It is important to note that just because your pain is felt in one location, that is not usually the source of the trouble."
The shoulder is the most complex joint in the human body. It has to move through more than 180 degrees of motion in many directions, rotate, slide and spin. There are a variety of muscles that have to work in concert to ensure the shoulder joint tracks properly with everyday activities. It is made up of the humerus bone, scapula (shoulder blade) and clavicle (collar bone). There are technically 4 joints that make up the entire shoulder complex.
Poor posture, weakened muscles, injury and lack of proper range of motion can all factor into shoulder pain. Shoulder pain is typically felt in the muscles between the shoulder and neck, as well as the outside shoulder radiating down. Where your pain is can determine what structures are involved.
It is important to note that just because your pain is felt in one location, that is not usually the source of the trouble. For example pain on the outside of the shoulder can be from an impingement of the joint or problems with the rotator cuff muscles. However, this can be caused by poor positioning and functioning of the shoulder blade, which is the real culprit. Treat the source of the problem and the irritation will resolve.
What is a Shoulder Sprain / Strain?
A sprain in the shoulder involves the ligaments while a strain involves the muscles around the shoulder. A sprain / strain typically occurs because the tissue has been overstretched too quickly, resulting in micro-tearing of the tissue. This results in painful inflammation, typically increased with movement and use of the damaged tissue.
The damage from a sprain / strain can be minor or major, depending on the severity of the injury, person’s health and age. As we age, our tissue becomes less elastic and becomes more prone to tearing.
Physical therapy is a very important part of the recovery from a sprain / strain. First the focus is on reducing pain and inflammation while maintaining or regaining range of motion. After the inflammatory phase is coming to an end the focus shifts to attaining full range of motion then gradual strengthening of the injured areas to regain normal strength. Towards the end of treatment, focus is shifted to the coordination of the shoulder joint and education towards preventing future injury.
If you have suffered a sprain or strain, or are suffering with shoulder pain call us today to start feeling relief and getting back to normal activities.
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