Tight Or Achy Shoulders Holding You Back? Try Physical Therapy!
If you’re dealing with shoulder pain daily, it’s a major issue. We utilize our shoulders all day. If you are in pain, it may disrupt your routine, mood, and productivity!
No matter what is causing your shoulder pain, we are here for you. Kerrville Physical Therapy Center is dedicated to providing you with natural pain relief options. Make an appointment today at our Kerrville, TX physical therapy clinic to learn more about our shoulder pain treatment options!
Common Causes Of Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can range from modest aches and pains caused by a strained muscle to severe bone-on-bone friction caused by arthritis. It can also occur from an accident.
This pain can show up in a variety of ways. For example, you might find you’re in pain when reaching for the top shelf to put away dishes or having trouble sleeping in a comfortable position.
Some of the most common causes of shoulder pain include:
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common types of arthritis that affect the shoulder. Both of these conditions cause shoulder muscular weakness and make it difficult to complete typical everyday chores. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition in which the immune system attacks the membranes that surround the shoulder joint.
This condition causes discomfort and inflammation. Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage in the shoulder joint wears down significantly. This is usually a result of age or overuse.
Rotator cuff injuries
Deep shoulder discomfort, arm weakness, difficulty reaching behind the back, and difficulty sleeping are all symptoms of rotator cuff injuries, popularly known as “torn shoulders.”
Depending on the severity and circumstances, surgery may be required for this condition. Physical therapy can often help reduce pain and restore rotator cuff strength without the need for surgery.
Physical therapy will be an important part of the rehabilitation process if surgery is necessary.
Tendinitis
As a result of a person’s job or physical demands, tendinitis can form in a person’s shoulder joint.
Poor posture contributes to this condition because it disrupts the equilibrium of your shoulders and causes tension and weakness. Since the tendons become inflamed over time, tendinitis results in swelling and severe impingement when you raise your arm.
Impingement
Impingement typically occurs because of abnormal movement and tracking of the humeral head as you lift your arm overhead. Pain typically occurs when lifting your arm at or above 90 degrees.
Frozen shoulder
Are you experiencing a painful loss of motion and a tightness of the shoulder joint? You might have a condition known as “frozen shoulder.” Movement can be restricted with this condition.
This syndrome can occur if your arm has been in a cast or sling for a long time, or if you have been bedridden.
Some ethnic groups are more prone, and women between the ages of 40 and 60 are more likely than men to have this illness.
How Can Physical Therapy Combat Shoulder Pain?
Physical therapy is a non-invasive, natural, and comfortable alternative to address shoulder pain. It’s performed without the use of harmful medications. Our physical therapists have treated a wide range of shoulder pain disorders, with many patients seeing considerable relief and improvement after just a few sessions!
Your physical therapist will assess several aspects of your overall health, including:
- Range of motion
- Strength
- Coordination
- Medical history
- Joint mobility
- Joint motion mechanics
To aid in the restoration of normal joint movement, relieve soft tissue restrictions, and promote circulation, gentle manual therapy may be included in your treatment plan. Specific strength-building exercises and a proper muscle activation sequence around the shoulder joint may also be included.
Once the source of your discomfort is identified, our Kerrville, TX physical therapist will be able to build a personalized treatment plan to manage and relieve your shoulder pain.
Physical therapy will also teach you new ways to increase your strength and avoid future shoulder problems.
Looking For True Shoulder Pain Relief? Call Us Today!
Shoulder pain should not control your life. We will give you the help you need to get back to doing the things you enjoy without pain. Make an appointment with Kerrville Physical Therapy Center today to begin your journey toward pain relief!
FAQs
What is the best exercise for shoulder pain?
While there is no one-stop solution for shoulder pain, there are many exercises that can be done to help strengthen the rotator cuff region and ease the pain you are expereincing. Our physical therapists are highly trained to help improve the flexibility and range of motion in your shoulder, in addition to relieving your pain and discomfort. This will be done through an individualized treatment plan designed specifically for you, including therapeutic modalities and targeted pain-relief exercises. A couple common rotator cuff-strengthening exercises that physical therapists prescribe are wall push-ups and chair push-ups. Resistance bands can also be used to increase the strength in your shoulder and help relieve pain. However, it is important to note that if your pain is serious, these exercises should not be performed without the aid of a physical therapist.
How many types of shoulder pain exist?
When it comes to your upper extremities, injuries typically fall into two categories: acute or overuse. Acute injuries are caused by a single specific incident, such as a strain or tear. Overuse injuries are caused by excessive repetitive movements over time. Both acute and overuse injuries can range from mild to severe and can have a significant impact on daily life function. Shoulder pain can also be chronic, meaning it has persisted for 3 months or longer, despite efforts to relieve it. If you have been living with chronic shoulder pain, it is in your best interest to consult with a physical therapist as soon as possible, so they can get to the root of the problem and treat you accordingly.
Can physical therapy help shoulder pain?
Two of the biggest goals of physical therapy are 1) to alleviate your pain and 2) to improve your function. Your physical therapist will work with you to make sure that both of these are achieved throughout your physical therapy sessions. Physical therapy has been proven to manage the pain of several conditions, and in many cases, it has even been proven to eliminate shoulder pain altogether, thus making the need for harmful drugs or surgical intervention obsolete.
What are the causes of shoulder pain?
There are several underlying causes that could result in shoulder pain. For example, a sudden injury or trauma to the shoulders can cause them to become painful. Repetitive motions can also cause shoulder pain, as your muscles, joints, and tendons are working in overdrive. While there are multiple factors that could be causing your shoulder pain, some of the most common include sprains, strains, a torn cartilage, dislocation, frozen shoulder, tendinitis, and arthritis.