Shoulder Pain Relief
You Don’t Have to Live with Shoulder Pain Any Longer
Shoulder Pain Can Limit Daily Activities – Physical Therapy Can Help
Pain in the shoulder and neck may be caused by a variety of things, including lifting heavy items, sleeping in an awkward posture, and reaching for something at the top of a shelf. It may also be caused by an injury that makes you feel like your shoulder is immobilized.
There are many possible causes of shoulder pain. The level of pain may vary from the mild discomfort associated with a strained muscle to the severe bone-on-bone friction seen with arthritis.
Whatever the source of your shoulder discomfort, Wellspring Health Center is committed to providing you with natural options to relieve pain. For additional information, contact us today.
What will a treatment plan for shoulder pain look like?
With physical therapy treatments, it is possible to achieve relief from shoulder pain without the need for dangerous medications or invasive surgery.
Our Eden Prairie, MN physical therapists have treated a wide range of shoulder pain conditions, with patients noticing relief and healing after just a few brief sessions – and sometimes fewer!
Our physical therapists are movement specialists who utilize a number of diagnostic methods to determine the source of your pain. During your examination, we will assess your range of motion, strength, coordination, medical history, joint mobility, and joint mechanics.
After determining the source of your shoulder pain, we will develop a customized combination of physical therapy techniques to control and alleviate your pain. A combination of gentle manual treatment and specialized therapeutic exercises may help restore healthy joint mobility, alleviate soft tissue restrictions, and improve circulation.
Finally, we provide you with exercises that can help you build strength and avoid future shoulder issues.
Why am I experiencing shoulder pain?
Your shoulder has the most range of motion of any joint in your body, allowing you to perform a wide array of functions.
However, with its intricacies comes the potential for pain and discomfort. It is a “ball-and-socket” joint, which means that the head of the upper arm bone, or “humerus,” fits precisely in the corresponding area inside the shoulder blade, or “scapula.” A thick layer of cartilage protects the ends of the bones, preventing them from rubbing together.
Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that prevent the tendons from rubbing against the bones. Tendons connect the bones of the shoulder to the rotator cuff. Pain may occur if anything goes wrong with the complexities that comprise the mechanical interplay of the shoulder.
The sort of pain you experience in your shoulder depends on what is causing it. Impingement pain, for example, often occurs when you lift your arm and starts at a specific position in the range of motion.
When you move your arm in certain ways, the pain caused by a deteriorated shoulder may cause recurrent discomfort. Acute injuries may result in severe and abrupt pain that renders your shoulder completely immobile.
Are you experiencing any of these shoulder pain conditions?
The intricacies of the shoulder joint provide several possible causes of pain.
The following are some of the most prevalent reasons for shoulder pain:
Frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder, sometimes called “adhesive capsulitis,” may develop if your arm has been in a cast or sling for a lengthy period of time or if you have been bedridden for an extended time. Additionally, some ethnic groups are predisposed, and women experience more occurrences than men. It is more prevalent in women between the ages of 40 and 60. Frozen shoulder is characterized by a painful loss of shoulder mobility and tightness of the shoulder joint, significantly limiting movement.
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common types of arthritis that affect the shoulder. Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage in the shoulder joint deteriorates significantly, generally as a result of aging or prolonged overuse. Rheumatoid arthritis develops when the immune system targets the membranes surrounding the shoulder joint, causing discomfort and inflammation. Both conditions result in a painful loss of range of motion, weakening shoulder muscles, and trouble completing everyday activities.
Impingement
Impingement often happens because the humeral head moves and tracks abnormally when you extend your arm upward. Typically, pain develops when your arm is raised to or above 90 degrees.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis develops when the shoulder joint is overworked, generally due to the rigors of a physically demanding job, overhead activity, or sport. Additionally, bad posture is a factor since it affects the usual forces on the tendons and might predispose you to tendon damage. This leads to persistent inflammation of the tendons, resulting in swelling and painful impingement while lifting your arm.
Rotator cuff tear
The rotator cuff comprises four muscles, tendons, and soft tissues that surround the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff’s function is to properly guide the shoulder joint’s movement. The rotator cuff may be partly or entirely torn by accident, misuse, bad posture, or even aging. Depending on the severity and circumstances, surgery may be required. Nonetheless, the right physical therapy treatments will often help alleviate discomfort and restore rotator cuff strength to compensate for a partial tear. If surgery is needed, physical therapy is an essential component of the rehabilitation process to ensure a successful recovery.
Could it be a rotator cuff tear? – a very common shoulder pain condition
While severe rotator cuff problems may necessitate surgery, there are instances in which physical therapy treatments may be just as effective (if not more effective) than surgery.
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, “A recent study from Finland asserts that when it comes to the treatment of nontraumatic rotator cuff tears, physical therapy alone produces results equal to those produced by arthroscopic surgery and open surgical repair.”
In the same research, a follow-up on 167 patients who received physical therapy alone for rotator cuff injuries revealed that conservative treatment, such as physical therapy, should be regarded as the primary treatment for this condition.
The rotator cuff is the group of muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint. Occasionally, the rotator cuff becomes torn or damaged due to repeated overhead movements in sports (like tennis) or employment (such as carpentry.)
Those who suffer from an injured rotator cuff or “torn shoulders” often describe a dull discomfort in their shoulder, arm weakness, difficulties reaching behind their backs, and sleep disturbances resulting from pain. Your rotator cuff injury may be alleviated and healed naturally with non-invasive physical therapy at Wellspring Health Center.
An assessment and diagnostic testing are performed at Wellspring Health Center to assess whether or not you have rotator cuff tears. An individualized treatment plan is developed for you per the needs of your diagnosis.
Ready to get started?
Stop letting shoulder pain restrict your physical potential! Our Eden Prairie, MN physical therapy, sports medicine, and wellness office can provide you with the treatment you need to get back to an active pain-free lifestyle. Call Wellspring Health Center today in Eden Prairie, MN to schedule your complimentary consultation and get started on your path toward recovery..