We recently worked with a patient–let’s call him Frank–who was dealing with persistent shoulder pain, especially when he tried to reach overhead. While the pain was only mild at first, it became more severe over time. Frustrated, Frank decided to try physiotherapy for shoulder pain.
It turned out to be the right idea. He met with the team at South Sherbrook Therapy, who evaluated his symptoms and worked with him to determine the source of his pain–In this case, he had developed tendonitis in his rotator cuff. Frank was an avid tennis player, and his trademark overhead swings had irritated the tissue.
Fortunately for Frank, this was a relatively simple issue for us to solve. We set him up with a personalized treatment program, and within a few weeks, he noticed a definite improvement.
Curious to learn more about physiotherapy for shoulder pain? Keep reading!
Why Am I Experiencing Shoulder Pain?
Your shoulder is a marvel of mobility, allowing for several impressive movements (like shrugging your shoulders or throwing a baseball). The reason for this is that the shoulder is a complex ball-and-socket joint that allows for more mobility than in a hinge joint (like your knee).
The shoulder consists of three bones: the humerus (arm bone), the clavicle (collarbone), and the scapula (shoulder blade). The humerus–or the “ball” part of the joint–fits into the shoulder blade–the “socket” part. Your shoulder also consists of three other joints that help connect it to the rest of the body.
Helping to support and stabilize the shoulder joint is the rotator cuff, which is what gave Frank trouble–and he’s not alone. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that wrap around the main shoulder joints. Much of the shoulder pain we see at our clinic stems from issues with the rotator cuff, such as tears or inflammation in the tissue.
Your shoulder also consists of bursae, small fluid-filled sacs that help cushion the bones and keep them moving smoothly. These bursae can also become inflamed, another source of shoulder pain. Finally, there’s a ring of cartilage inside your shoulder socket called the labrum. It can tear, another potential source of shoulder pain.
If we can’t trace your shoulder pain to any of these causes, it might be the early stages of frozen shoulder, a condition where adhesions (thick tissue) form around the shoulder joint. It initially causes severe shoulder pain that eventually gives way to severe shoulder restriction.
A lot can potentially go wrong with your shoulder–but our physiotherapists are on the case!
Physiotherapy for Shoulder Pain: What to Expect
We’ll always start by determining the reason for your shoulder pain–not just the specific injury but also why it occurred. Understanding the cause of your shoulder pain will help us develop the best treatment plan for your needs, and it can also help you avoid activities or postures that might have contributed to the injury in the first place.
We’ll then help you manage acute pain using a blend of manual therapy techniques, such as shoulder mobilizations, in which we guide your shoulder through its current range of motion. In some cases, we might recommend additional pain-relieving modalities, like laser or ultrasound therapy.
However, the foundation of our treatment plan is movement. Targeted shoulder exercises will help improve mobility and build strength in the surrounding muscles, which can help resolve injuries and reduce pain. Exercise can also address postural issues or muscular imbalances that might have put undue strain on your shoulder joint or rotator cuff, contributing to an injury.
Don’t Let Shoulder Pain Impact Your Quality of Life
You don’t have to go through life wincing in pain every time you try to grab something off a high shelf. Physiotherapy for shoulder pain offers targeted, tailored treatment programs that dig down to the root cause of your shoulder issue, helping guide you toward lasting relief.
The team at South Sherbrook Therapy is excited to help you live a pain-free life. Request an appointment at our Winnipeg clinic today!
