The shoulder joint is made up of three main parts: These bones are held together by muscles, tendons and ligaments and because they are used so much the shoulders are at a higher risk for injury.
Humerus (the upper-arm bone)
Clavicle (the collarbone)
Scapula (the shoulder blade)
Common injuries that Lead to Shoulder Pain
Sudden Injuries can be the result of anything from tripping and landing on your shoulder to twisting the shoulder in an unnatural way.
- Bruises
- Injured tendons, which connect the muscle to the bone
- Injured ligaments, which help keep the shoulder joint stable
- Injured nerves
- Torn rotator cuff, which happens when any of the four tendons that cover the shoulder joint is damaged
- Strained muscles
- Broken bones
- Dislocation
A shoulder injury, will cause bruising or swelling and you may feel tingling or numbness if the injury resulted in a pinched nerve or damaged blood vessel.
Overuse Injuries can develop slowly over time as a result of your everyday activities.
- Bursitis, which is when the fluid sac cushioning and lubricating the shoulder joint becomes inflamed.
- Tendinitis, which is when the tendons become inflamed.
- Muscle strain.
- Frozen shoulder, which “freezes” your shoulder’s range of movement.
- Impingement syndrome, which is when overhead arm movements force the tendons to rub against a part of the shoulder blade, which can lead the rotator cuff tendons to become inflamed.
- overuse injuries develop slowly over time as a result of everyday activities
- While acute and overuse injuries are the most common reason for shoulder pain, there are a handful of less-common injuries that can also affect your shoulder, including:
- Irregular posture
- Osteoarthritis
- Herniated disk
- Calcium buildup
- Infection
Physical Therapy
Ice therapy: icing injured spots for acute injuries. It helps reduce inflammation and swelling, which, in turn, helps reduce pain.
Heat therapy: used within the first hours of the injury, is a painkiller and allows muscles to relax.
Hands-on therapy: our physical therapist’s help to relax the injured shoulder.
Stretching: is designed to gently push your muscles until you regain your range of motion.
Strengthening: to reduce the pain at the injury site while also strengthening other muscles, like your core. The goal is to leave you stronger than before the injury in an attempt to prevent its reoccurrence.
Joint mobilization: aims to increase the shoulder’s mobility by stretching the joint capsule. Because it requires a thorough understanding of anatomy, it’s only performed by a trained, professional physical therapist.
Ultrasound: or shoulder pain in which the muscles, tendons and other soft tissue are treated to a session of deep heating. The heat improves the circulation in the tissue, which both alleviates pain and assists in healing the injury. It help increase the elasticity of muscles, especially in cases of frozen shoulder, in order to allow the muscles to stretch more easily increasing the range of mobility.
Electrical stimulation: it’s used to contract muscles or reduce inflammation,
Spider taping: encourages movement in a safe and secure way while increasing circulation.
Activity modification: will help to reduce the likelihood of your shoulder injury returning, our physical therapist will provide you with ways to perform everyday activities, so your shoulders are properly supported.
What to Expect From a Physical Therapy Appointment
In the initial appointment, you’ll talk with the physical therapist about your shoulder pain or shoulder injury, including how you got it. The physical therapist will discuss any physical limitations you have as a result of your injury and what goals you hope to achieve throughout the course of treatment. The initial appointment will involve the physical therapist examining the physical limitations of your injury, including checking your range of motion and if there is any structural damage. It’s a good idea to wear comfortable, casual clothes for the appointment, so you’re able to move with ease and the physical therapist can conduct their evaluation properly.
We’re proud to offer a comfortable and inviting environment in which you can feel relaxed and at ease. Our team of experienced rehab professionals will take the time to discuss your injury with you as well as any concerns you may have. We’ll work to establish the best treatment plan that is perfect for you.
Get in touch to book an appointment by calling 828-837-0400
