Shoulder Pain
Understand Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can be a serious hindrance to our activities of daily living. It can impact almost every part of our lives and make it difficult to carry out even the most basic tasks. Shoulder pain is effectively treated with physical therapy depending on the source of the pain. Having an experienced physical therapist diagnose and treat your shoulder pain can save you unnecessary pain medication, joint injections, surgeries, and expensive imaging. See common causes os shoulder pain below
Common Causes of Shoulder Pain
Shoulder Arthritis
The shoulder joint is made of the shoulder blade and the humerus bone (main bone in the upper arm). A smooth cartilage surface covers the surface of these bones where they meet. Over time the cartilage and bone surfaces become damaged resulting in shoulder arthritis.
Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder impingement is a catch all term for shoulder pain that occurs because of poor movements of the shoulder blade and humerus. There are sensitive structures in the shoulder such as bursa and rotator cuff tendons, both of which can become "impinged" if there is weakness, incoordination, or limited range of motion in the shoulder.
Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
Frozen shoulder refers to tightening of the capsule and supporting ligaments of the shoulder. A true frozen shoulder follows a very specific pattern of movement and disability. Common impairments include difficulty reaching behind the back, raising the arm overhead, and difficulty getting into a throwing position.
Rotator Cuff Tear
The rotator cuff refers to a group of 4 muscles that are responsible for rotation of the shoulder. The tendons of the rotator cuff are susceptible to injury due to their location. There are two ways in which a rotator cuff tear can occur, degenerative and traumatic. Degenerative tears can occur over time and are often not symptomatic until the tear is more advanced. A traumatic rotator cuff injury usually occurs after a fall or other event that requires forceful movement of the shoulder.
How Will Physical Therapy Help My Shoulder Pain?
A complete evaluation of your shoulder pain would include a postural assessment, range of motion measurements, strength evaluation, and special testing to assess for which tissue is causing your pain. Once the source of the pain has been identified the physical therapist is able to determine which course of treatment is most effective.