Understanding Your Shoulder

Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint, meaning that the humerus (ball) fits perfectly in the corresponding space in the shoulder blade (socket). Each end of the bone is protected by thick cartilage that offers mild support and allows for fluid movement.

The shoulder has the following essential structures:

• The rotator cuff: This is a group of muscles surrounding the shoulder joint providing support and movement through a wide range of motion.
• The bursas: These are small sacs of fluid that cushion and protect the tendons from the bones.
• The labrum: This is the cartilage that helps reinforce the cup that the ball fits into.

Your shoulders can accomplish several physical feats due to their structure — however, this also means that they are at an increased risk of injury. When something becomes damaged in the shoulders, pain and discomfort develop. This pain may range from a dull ache to shooting pains, depending on the severity of the condition.

Common Conditions That Cause Shoulder Pain

Pain from an acute injury can be sudden and intense, making it difficult for you to move your shoulder at all. Pain due to wear and tear or degenerative changes are often more achy and sore. 

The most common conditions affecting the shoulder are:

• Strains: A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is stretched too far or torn. Strains that are not resolved fully can lead to ongoing shoulder pain, making it difficult to partake in exercise or even daily tasks. 
• Tendinitis: Tendinitis in the shoulder joint occurs when the joint is injured or overused. This typically happens due to the demands of a sport or labor-intensive job, which can cause the tendons to experience ongoing irritation. 
• Cartilage injury: An injury to the cartilage will typically lead to a limited range of motion and may lead to decreased strength in the affected shoulder. Often you will experience pain when moving your arm in specific ways, but not others.
• Arthritis: Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in the shoulder joint experiences significant “wear and tear,” typically due to age or excessive overuse. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system sees the joints as a threat, resulting in pain and inflammation. In both cases, pain and loss of motion are typical. 
• Frozen shoulder: Medically referred to as adhesive capsulitis, a frozen shoulder can occur if you have been bedridden or your arm has been in a cast or sling for a while. Unfortunately, it can also happen without an apparent cause. This condition causes tissues to stiffen up and causes this painful condition to occur.

How Physiotherapy Can Help

Rehabilitation should start immediately following most injuries to ensure the fastest recovery possible. A physiotherapist with experience treating shoulder pain will thoroughly evaluate the severity of your injury and identify any other limitations affecting your recovery, mobility, stability, or strength. 

Our therapists at South Sherbrook Therapy will create a targeted, individualized care plan to promote accelerated recovery and future injury prevention. Your physiotherapist will guide you through a series of exercises designed to help the injury and return to your pre-injury abilities. 

We will start with pain management and restoring mobility to the injured shoulder. Next, we will focus on progressing your strength and dynamic stability exercises designed to restore function and prevent injuries. We will also incorporate any appropriate pain relief technique to help ensure you can resume doing all the activities you love.

Boost Your Game with Injury Prevention Tips!

At South Sherbrook Therapy, we are totally focused on helping athletes like you get back on track if you’ve had a recent injury. We check out what’s causing any aches or trouble moving so we can figure out the best way to help you.

We’ll also guide you through the steps to prevent injuries and ensure you are getting stronger and ready to return to the sport you love so much.

Here Are Our Top Tips to Help You Stay Injury-Free:

• Sleep: Getting plenty of sleep is a big deal. Studies show that good sleep can help prevent injuries.
• Strength Training: This is a great way to build strong muscles that can help keep you safe while playing.
• Nutrition: Eating balanced meals is essential for staying healthy and avoiding injuries.
• Hydration: Drinking enough water is critical for helping you recover and keeping injuries away.
• Avoiding Fatigue: Making sure not to overdo it and giving yourself breaks is vital to stay away from injuries.

Our goal is to help you return to your training and competition, using targeted exercises that help prevent any injuries. We’re here to help you face your sport’s challenges with more strength and confidence!