Pain in the shoulder is a frequent complaint across all age groups and physical activity levels. It can come from diverse sources, including injuries, overuse, and degenerative conditions. The treatments available range from simple home methods and physical therapy to injections and surgeries. Understanding what treatments work best in what situations requires a clear picture of the shoulder’s anatomy and the normal mechanics of its movement.
Fortunately, a physical therapist at Physical Therapy Advantage can help diagnose the underlying cause of shoulder pain and create a tailored treatment plan.
What Are The Causes of Shoulder Pain?
The shoulder hurts for many reasons—rotator cuff tears, tendonitis, frozen shoulder, bursitis, and impingement. These conditions can lead to pain and really limit how you move your shoulder. Some days, it feels like you just can’t do anything that requires you to lift your arm above your head or reach out to the side and up.
Physical Therapy Methods for Treating Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can be treated in several ways with physical therapy. The methods can be categorized into three: hands-on techniques (like mobilization, manipulation, and massage), the use of various devices and substances (like ice, heat, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound), and a patient-specific exercise program (like stretching and strengthening the shoulder and nearby areas). You may also undergo training to ensure your shoulder doesn’t hurt as much or at all in the future.
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy consists of hands-on techniques that are used to relieve pain and enhance function. physical therapists may employ several manual therapy techniques for shoulder pain.
- Joint Mobilization: A physical therapist applies gentle but firm movements to the shoulder joint. This technique aims to restore normal joint mechanics and alleviate shoulder pain. The physical therapist’s hands act like the joint’s missing parts—pushing, pulling, and moving in a way that helps the joint work better.
- Soft Tissue Mobilization: Mobilization of the tissues surrounding the shoulder joint is another effective approach. It targets tight muscles, tendons, and ligaments in and around the shoulder. By applying pressure and manipulating the soft tissues surrounding the shoulder joint, a physical therapist can reduce muscle tension, improve blood flow, and help you heal.
Therapeutic Exercises
The foundation of Aurora physical therapy for shoulder pain lies with exercise. physical therapists create tailored exercise regimens for each patient that work to both strengthen and stretch the patient’s shoulder; their focus is mainly on the shoulder’s rotary cuff and its stabilizers. These are the two key muscle groups that maintain shoulder integrity.
Therapeutic exercises generally include strengthening exercises, stretches, and functional exercises.
Modalities
Shoulder pain is often treated by physical therapists using a variety of techniques. One of these is the use of heat. Applying heat can relax muscles, improve circulation, and ease stiffness. This method is often beneficial before one engages in exercise or manual therapy.
Ice packs are also used. They can reduce inflammation and numb pain, particularly in the acute phase of a shoulder injury. When a physical therapist uses ice, it’s typically applied for a short period to manage swelling and superficial discomfort.
Sound waves are also used by physical therapists in ultrasound therapy. These waves can penetrate deeply into tissues, which promotes healing and reduces pain.
Shoulder pain can also be treated with a functional dry needling in Aurora. In this therapy, therapists insert fine, sterile needles into the tense area. The tiny muscles in and around the shoulder respond by twitching and relaxing. The “dry” part of the name means that no medicine is delivered through the needle. Dry needling is a straightforward, safe, and effective way to decrease shoulder pain and improve range of motion.
Patient Education
An essential part of physical therapy is patient education. Your physical therapist will help you understand the nature of your pain. Second, you will learn about the contributing factors that play a role in your condition. Lastly, your therapist will enlighten you on the basic premise of self-management strategies.
Conclusion
Shoulder pain can be effectively managed when individuals seek out the appropriate care. physical therapy offers many beneficial treatments for this condition, such as manual therapy, problem-specific exercise, and qualitative relief delivered across various modalities.
A physical therapist at Physical Therapy Advantage will also instruct you on what not to do if your shoulder is hurt. They will take you through several stages of treatment to gradually get you back to doing everything you used to do before your shoulder pain.
