Shoulder pain is any distress you feel near your shoulder joint. The shoulder is a complicated joint that lets you throw a ball, reach for an item, or give someone a high five. Because of how often you use it, your shoulder is more in danger of injury and damage, which can generate pain.
However, if you are looking for a noninvasive method to treat your shoulder pain, then Physical Therapy for shoulder pain will be the best option.
Causes of Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain may also be caused by:
- Arthritis in the shoulder joint
- Bone spurs in the shoulder area.
- Bursitis
- Broken shoulder bone
- Dislocation of the shoulder
- Shoulder separation
- Frozen shoulder
- Overuse or injury
- Nerve injury
- Tears of the rotator cuff tendons
- Poor shoulder posture and mechanics
If you are seeking shoulder pain relief, then you can take the help of recommendations to find the best Physical Therapy near you.
How can Physical Therapy help with Shoulder pain?
If your doctor suggests physical Therapy, your therapist will review your strength and range of motion, check your functional capabilities (like reaching up and behind your back), question your goals, and develop a personalized treatment plan to relieve your shoulder pain and fix your mobility.
Physical therapy treatments for shoulder pain may contain stretching, strengthening, and joint mobilization/stabilization. Your physical therapist can also advise on activity modification and workplace ergonomics. Your physical therapist will also work with you to make a comprehensive home exercise program to help you maintain your quality of life beyond your therapy sessions.
What is the most effective physical therapy for relieving shoulder pain?
- RICE Therapy
- Strengthening Exercises
- Stretching
- Hands-On Therapy
- Ultrasound Therapy
Rice Therapy
One of the most typical therapies for shoulder pain is the RICE method. The REST, ICE, COMPRESSION, and ELEVATION method (RICE) is a commonly used injury treatment. It involves testing the affected area, applying ice to reduce inflammation, using compression to control swelling, and elevating the injured body part to reduce pain and promote healing.
Strengthening
During your physical therapy session for shoulder pain, your therapist will guide you on how to achieve strengthening exercises. This will assist to reduce pain and strengthen the muscles covering your shoulder. Strengthening your shoulder is essential to prevent injury from recurring.
Stretching
The cause is that stretching allows you to push your muscles toward regaining their full range of motion. It also enables improved flexibility and mobility in the arm. Depending on the size of your injury, your physical therapist may contain stretches that target parts of your spine and neck, too.
Hands-On Therapy
As the name implies, hands-on Therapy affects your physical therapist using their hands to relax parts of your shoulder. They may also use pressure on parts of your shoulder to get the deep tissue and help it recover mobility. Hands-on Therapy can also reveal and pinpoint specific areas of pain so your physical therapist knows where he needs the most help.
Ultrasound Therapy
Ultrasound therapy should not be confused with a traditional ultrasound. It involves the application of deep heat to the muscles, tendons, and tissue of the shoulder. This therapy promotes circulation, improves the elasticity of muscles, and facilitates tissue healing. Usually, ultrasound therapy is administered in sessions lasting about 5 to 10 minutes, for a total of 6 to 12 sessions.
How can shoulder pain patients benefit from Physical Therapy?
Depending on the proportions of your shoulder pain and your unique medical record, physical Therapy may be an adequate non-surgical means of treatment. For issues like shoulder impingement, small rotator cuff tears, and mild to moderate osteoarthritis, investigations have shown that physical Therapy can enhance your quality of life and, in some cases, prevent surgical intervention.
Yet, suppose you and your doctor choose that surgery is the best option for you. In that case, physical Therapy can still be a vital part of your road to recovery both before and after surgery. Your physician may decide to send you to physical therapy before surgery for numerous reasons. The objectives of your pre-surgical physical Therapy include strength development, education, and the result of a home exercise routine. This is known as “pre-hab”.
A recent study has shown that patients who undergo pre-hab sessions with a physical therapist have faster surgical recovery times and require less intensive therapy afterward. The more well-informed and physically prepared you are before surgery, the more resilient and confident you will be after the procedure.
Final words
Physical Therapy is a pivotal and highly effective approach to managing shoulder pain. Through targeted exercises, manual techniques, and patient education, it aims to alleviate discomfort, restore range of motion, and strengthen the shoulder complex.
Overall, physical Therapy for shoulder pain is a cornerstone in the holistic and comprehensive approach to enhancing shoulder function and alleviating discomfort, ultimately improving the quality of life for those affected by this debilitating condition.
Tags: Physical therapy for shoulder pain, shoulder pain relief exercises michigan, shoulder pain therapy
